White House press secretary defends legal background and first briefing

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 21:03 · Archive

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, has defended her legal background and her short inaugural briefing.

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, defended her legal background and the brevity of her inaugural briefing in an interview with the conservative Human Events outlet on Thursday, describing her first week as rocky.

Zacharia said the shortened first briefing on Tuesday was intentional. She explained that she wanted to give President Trump time to answer journalists' questions himself. "It was absolutely my goal to keep it short, considering he is his own best spokesperson, and he would love -- and does love -- gaggling with the media as he goes to Marine One," she said. "So I wanted to give ample deference and not barge into his time."

Zacharia received initial briefing materials on Monday evening, with final preparation completed on Tuesday at 8 a.m., less than two hours before appearing before the White House press corps. She said she had been awake since 3 a.m. preparing. "I never had a full briefing beforehand, and I went out and I effectuated the briefing," she said.

Regarding her legal background, Zacharia said she was preparing to take the California bar exam while getting married and moving to China to join her husband, who was working in private equity in Beijing. "I was obviously incredibly distracted and overwhelmed and excited for finally being married to someone who I'd been long distance from for at least a year," she said.

How it is being reported

• New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefingKatie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, is defending her legal background and short inaugural briefing.News4Jax · 15 Oct, 20:39
• New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefingKatie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, is defending her legal background and short inaugural briefing.Clickorlando · 15 Oct, 20:39

In this story: Katie Zacharia · Donald Trump · White House · California · China · Beijing

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