Donald Trump‘s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, left everyone talking after putting the “brief” in briefing during her first White House appearance on Tuesday (October 13) — but most of it has been critical or downright comical.
The latter was the case with the cohosts ofThe View, who weighed in on the 14-minute briefing in which Zacharia made several audible flubs and only took three questions from reporters.
After reviewing highlights of the appearance, moderator Whoopi Goldberg noted, “Apparently, there are already whispers that she may be Scaramucci-ed,” in reference to Anthony Scaramucci‘s record-setting short term in as WH communications director in Trump’s first term.
Alyssa Farah Griffin then weighed in to say, “She seemed confused when she mentioned Venezuela. Like she’s reading it, and it’s like, ‘Is that what I mean?’” However, Griffin, who herself has been in comms roles for the executive in the past, related to her nervousness before concluding, “I don’t know how this gal is gonna last.”
After she then wondered aloud how Zacharia even got through the door, Sara Haines began to speak up, but Goldberg shut her down — presumably, suspecting there might be a suggestive comment coming from her cohost.
However, Haines eventually weighed in and said she could also relate to “having stress” and “when the brain stops working with the mouth,” but she also criticized Zachariah for the short length of the briefing. “I have spent longer telling my kids we’re leaving the house than that briefing,” she said. “There were literally three questions she didn’t know one, and then she sent them out to ask Trump. I also have been on the phone with customer service. That’s being transferred. They’re being transferred.”
Ana Navarro offered her own comedic contrast, saying, “I have literally had bouts of hiccups that lasted longer than this press conference,” before adding, “It was such a mess because it was 14 minutes long. She couldn’t read! I mean, there’s second graders that read at a higher level than she does. She couldn’t answer questions. These were questions that were from handpicked, curated right-wing media outlets asking her softballs.”
Navarro then said that the qualifications for the job under Trump are, “You need to be under Trump, a psychopath, check…. You need to be blonde. Being blonde helps. Check. You need to be able to lie. You need to be able to lie with confidence, not looking nervous.”
Like the other cohosts, Sunny Hostin empathized with the nerves from her own past experiences in the courtroom, but she argued, “I do feel like that’s the easiest job in Washington, D.C. You get up there, you take like five questions, you give nonsensical answers, you insult the media, and then you leave. It’s a very easy job. I think I could’ve trained her… So that was very uncomfortable to watch.” She also questioned Zachariah’s claim that she was licensed as an attorney in China.
Navarro then jumped back in with, “She could have gone to clown school” before adding, “We have literally reached the point in American politics where reality is funnier thanSaturday Night Live.”
In the second segment, the cohosts weighed in on another major point of administrative embarrassment after the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. who was appointed to become ambassador of Greece, after she was accused of soliciting $100,000 from a donor to pay off her credit card.
After reviewing Trump’s comments about the matter, in which he denied Guilfoyle was part of his family, Goldberg said in her mocking valley girl voice, “He thinks they dated. She dated that man for six years! They were engaged for almost four years.”
Haines then joked, “Well, see, he didn’t even go to that guy’s wedding, so I don’t think he cares.”
Griffin complained that “there is only accountability for women who misbehave” while other male members of the Trump administration get away with it. “Pete Hegseth, who’s completely messing up the war in Iran, had SignalGate, announced he’s doing a live-streamed execution without the White House’s approval, he still has a job!” she noted.
After further discussion, Griffin then imitated Guilfoyle’s infamous speech at the 2024 RNC, shouting with open arms, “Don’t forget, ‘The best is yet to come!’”
The View, weekdays, 11a/10c, ABC