Karoline Leavitt drops brutal verdict on Katie Zacharias brief performance as WH press secretary

WASHINGTON — Karoline Leavitt weighed in on her first successor to the White House press secretary job, saying the position “was not for” Katie Zacharia.Leavitt told Fox News that being President Trump’s spokesperson “takes a lot of preparation and sometimes you don’t know how someone will perform until they go out there.”“We wish Katie the best.The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well,” she added.Zacharia lasted five days as Trump’s press secretary, giving a short briefing where she was visibly nervous.

Since her departure, she returned to her California home and has stayed quiet, being captured in public working out and again sporting a MAGA hat.But Zacharia’s supporters are crying foul about Leavitt’s not-so-subtle assessment.

“It’s unfair for the former press secretary to continue brutalizing President Trump’s hand-picked successor,” a source familiar with Zacharia’s thinking told The Post.“Katie has been adamant about not taking any interviews with friendly or hostile press, has declined profile pieces and would like for the coverage to focus on President Trump’s hard work,” the source continued.“She will not go on a self-promotion tour because it does not benefit the president.

And she remains ruthlessly loyal while facing unprecedented attacks against her.”Behind the scenes, some of the administration concedes that Zacharia was given a tough start.She flew in from California to interview with President Trump on the Friday before she started the job, then flew back to California to pack up her belongings and returned to Washington DC that weekend.Monday was spent onboarding — filling out the paperwork and background information necessary to work for the government.Her first briefing was Tuesday morning, which was essentially her first full day on the job and she was sent into the press room to take on the media.“I have always been deeply thankful for the opportunity to support P...