New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said that she did her "very best" during her first briefing as she defended herself against criticism surrounding her legal credentials on "Hannity" Thursday.The Pepperdine Law graduate made her White House briefing room debut on Tuesday, just days after President Donald Trump announced her appointment on Friday, leaving her with what she said was little time to prepare for the high-profile role."What I feel is I really stepped up to the plate to do the press conference," she told host Sean Hannity."With very little prep time, I received briefing materials in the morning of Tuesday."TRUMP'S NEW PRESS SECRETARY FACES FIRST MAJOR TEST AS WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM ENTERS NEW ERAWhite House press secretary Katie Zacharia arrives to a news briefing in the James S.
Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Oct.13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Zacharia was heavily scrutinized for taking only three questions during her roughly 14-minute briefing, much of which she spent touting the Trump administration’s accomplishments ahead of the midterm elections.HOCHUL'S OFFICE MOCKS KATIE ZACHARIA WITH AARON RODGERS INJURY POST DESPITE GOVERNOR'S PRESS SECRETARY SCANDALShe pushed back on criticism of her performance, saying she was on the job for less than eight hours before stepping behind the podium.She also challenged criticism that she fielded questions exclusively from conservative-leaning news organizations."Given the fact that I'd been on the job less than maybe eight hours and had a briefing book in the morning, I feel like I did my very best, Sean, to deliver for the American people that day," Zacharia said.FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RESTORE WHITE HOUSE ACCESS TO CNN, MS NOW AND POLITICOWhite House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia listens to President Donald Trump talk with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One en route to Alaska on Tuesday...