Politico reports Susie Wiles arranged the Fox News interview that accelerated Katie Zacharia's dismissal

Critics say Zacharia's selection bypassed Wiles, fueling speculation of a White House power struggle

Katie Zacharia, who stepped down as White House press secretary just five days after being appointed. [EPA]
Katie Zacharia, who stepped down as White House press secretary just five days after being appointed. [EPA]

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles effectively set a trap that led to the ouster of Katie Zacharia, who became the shortest-serving White House press secretary in history after resigning just five days into the job amid controversy over misrepresenting her legal credentials, according to media reports.

Wiles arranged the television interview widely seen as the decisive blow to Zacharia's tenure, the reports said. They also raised allegations that Zacharia was caught up in an internal White House power struggle.

According to Politico, the US political news outlet, Wiles was involved in arranging Zacharia's appearance on Fox News. The report, citing two White House sources, was published Saturday (local time).

Zacharia appeared on Fox News on Thursday — three days after she began her duties as the new White House press secretary. The program was hosted by Sean Hannity, a presenter with close ties to President Donald Trump. Hannity pressed her hard on two issues: her having presented herself as a lawyer despite failing the bar exam, and the widespread criticism her first press briefing had drawn.

Zacharia struggled to respond. She offered an unconvincing explanation, saying she had consulted a legal expert who told her it was acceptable to call herself a lawyer. She appeared on another Fox News program the following morning but again failed to handle the questions smoothly. She was dismissed that same afternoon — five days after her appointment.

Politico, citing two White House sources, reported that the person who arranged the Hannity interview was none other than Wiles and White House communications official Daniel Alvarez.

While the interview could have appeared to offer Zacharia a chance to put the controversy behind her — given Hannity's prominence among Trump's hardcore MAGA base — analysts say it was in effect a scheme engineered to bring about her downfall.

Zacharia's selection as White House press secretary had been Trump's own decision, made with little consultation with Wiles, sparking talk inside the White House of a "Wiles bypass." Critics say the episode was a symbolic sign of Wiles' diminishing standing at a time when Trump was already said to be considering replacing his chief of staff.

One source told Politico that Zacharia's appearance was "a deliberate hit" — that Wiles had pushed her into the Hannity interview knowing she would not survive it. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung rebuffed the account, calling it "pure speculation and an uncreative work of fiction." He added that Zacharia "took on a very important role and will continue to support the president as she transitions to a new position. She is a great colleague and a remarkable talent."

Fox News also issued a statement, saying the interview had been Hannity's own decision and that "Wiles and Alvarez had nothing to do with the booking."


ken@heraldcorp.com