Want to be Trump's White House press secretary? Tips from a survivor -

Job opening: White House press secretary.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds the record for longest service in that post during President Donald Trump‘s two terms, lasting close to two years before moving back to Arkansas. Where, BTW, she was elected Nov. 3 to a second term as governor.

Now the White House spokesman job has been vacant since mid-October when the last occupant, Katie Zacharia, lasted just five days before Trump suggested it wasn’t a good fit amid questions about whether she misrepresented her legal credentials.

That set a record for shortest tenure as a White House press secretary.

Who were the shortest-serving members of Trump’s administrations?

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Katie Zacharia was fired as White House press secretary after just five days on the job after a rocky first briefing, the revelation she had misrepresented herself as a lawyer and President Donald Trump casted doubt on her ability to serve in the role. Four sources familiar with the decision confirmed her ouster, including a senior White House official, who told USA TODAY that Zacharia is “transitioning out” of the job. Her departure came shortly after Trump told reporters the job might not be for her and had asked her to consider stepping down.

See her first week in office in photos, starting here as Zacharia holds her first press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, Oct. 13, 2026. Zacharia, 41, a conservative commentator tapped for the high-profile job, replaced former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who was known for her aggressive approach as she set the tone for the White House’s handling of a wide range of issues.

(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

It also beat an unhappy marker set by Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 11 days as Trump’s communications director. (In Washington-speak, 11 days is now sometimes referred to as “one Scaramucci.”)

What was the secret of Sanders’ success − and her survival?

“Well, one of the most important pieces is that he is his own spokesperson most of the time, and he does it better than anybody else can because it’s his vision, his message, his words,” she said in an interview with USA TODAY about her new book. “Unapologetic: Clarity and Conviction in a World Gone Crazy,” published Nov. 10 by St. Martin’s Press.

In other words, Trump is his own press secretary.

U.S. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders hangs on to her son George as she holds a briefing with children of members of the White House Press Corps and White House staffers at the White House for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day in Washington, U.S. April 25, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

What went wrong for Zacharia?

“You know, I think one of the hardest parts is that she came in and was put up on the podium so quickly,” Sanders said. “I had the benefit of being the deputy for several months before stepping into that role, so I wasn’t just walking in and walking straight up to the podium. I had a lot of preparation of being part of the team, both as a deputy but also on the campaign side and working directly with the president, spending time with him, seeing his decision-making process.”

In contrast, Zacharia had been an intern at the George W. Bush White House, appeared as a conservative commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, and briefly worked in public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.

Her only formal White House briefing, on Oct. 13, lasted 15 minutes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Want to be Trump’s White House press secretary? Tips from a survivor

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