A former Fox News Radio host accused the network of running a “professional hit job” to take out White House press secretary Katie Zacharia.
Todd Starnes made the charge Friday morning in a post on X that pointed to the network’s own interviews with Zacharia on Thursday night and Friday morning. Starnes worked for Fox News Radio until 2019, when the network declined to renew his contract, The Hill reported at the time.
“Has Katie figured out that Fox News was assigned the task of taking her out as press secretary? That was a professional hit job last night and this morning,” Starnes wrote.
Zacharia has been on the defensive in her first week, including in interviews with President Donald Trump’s allies.
“The scrutiny from Fox, which continued Friday on the president’s favorite morning show, reflects serious skepticism about her ability to represent the president going forward,” CNN's Stelter noted.
Fox News host Sean Hannity, a longtime friend of the president, pressed Zacharia on her first briefing early in their Thursday night interview.
“It’s been widely panned… It only lasted 14 minutes. You took three questions,” Hannity said.
“I really stepped up to the plate to do the press conference, shaken, with very little prep time,” Zacharia replied.
“Am I hearing that you think the staff should have prepped you better?” Hannity asked.
“Instead of taking questions, probably should have stepped aside,” Zacharia conceded.
Hannity then turned to her legal background, which has drawn scrutiny because Trump’s announcement of her hiring called her “an attorney” even though she failed the bar exam, CNN reported.
“You took the bar exam, but you didn’t pass the bar exam, correct?” Hannity asked.
“Yes, Sean,” Zacharia said.
“Did you ever take it a second time or third time?” Hannity pressed.
“No, I did not,” Zacharia said.
“There’s a report out tonight that showed 15 social media posts where you identify yourself as an attorney,” Hannity said.
“I think they were retweets,” Zacharia replied.
CNN reported that Zacharia faced more questions Friday morning when she appeared live on “Fox & Friends” from the White House North Lawn.
“You were just thrown into this role,” co-host Ainsley Earhardt, Hannity’s fiancée, told her.
“It’s been a tough week for you,” co-host Lawrence Jones said before asking whether she wished she had told Trump that she never passed the bar exam.
“Those questions weren’t asked,” Zacharia said. “I’m being hired as White House press secretary, not White House counsel.”
“Katie, do you — and it’s a tough question — do you think you still have the confidence of the president?” Jones asked.
“Uh, I’m — I’m standing here, and I was able to travel with him through all of the midterm convention — or, excuse me, the midterm rallies — and I hope to be able to build the trust and confidence of everyone around me,” Zacharia answered.
After the interview, Zacharia greeted reporters gathered outside but declined to answer any questions.