--- title: "Katie Zacharia Steps Down as White House Press Secretary Amid Scrutiny Over Legal Credentials" url: https://newscentral.site/katie-zacharia-steps-down-as-white-house-press-secretary-amid/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Politics" published: 2026-10-16T22:50:20.000Z updated: 2026-10-17T20:56:35.805Z id: 8ce0fbfc-ef72-4f76-b327-d111dc194f6a source: "PBS NewsHour Politics https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-zacharia-out-as-white-house-press-secretary-after-less-than-a-week-on-the-job" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/katie-zacharia-steps-down-as-white-house-press-secretary-amid/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Katie Zacharia Steps Down as White House Press Secretary Amid Scrutiny Over Legal Credentials White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia has stepped down after just one week in the role due to scrutiny over her alleged legal credentials. Katie Zacharia has stepped down as White House Press Secretary after just a week in the role. This decision comes amidst scrutiny over her alleged legal credentials. Despite claiming to be a lawyer, Zacharia has not passed the bar exam. The White House confirms this transition is underway. Zacharia's tenure was marked by controversy from the start. She held only one press briefing on Tuesday, which drew attention from just three news outlets. This limited engagement suggests she struggled to establish herself in her new role. Her defense of being a lawyer despite lacking bar certification has raised eyebrows within the legal community. In California, multiple large brush fires are forcing residents to evacuate their homes. A blaze in Malibu prompted evacuation orders and warnings for those living in the Santa Monica Mountains. Another fire burned several homes in Orange County, with power companies shutting off service to tens of thousands of customers. The West Bank is also witnessing unrest as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians collecting their autumn olive harvest. Dozens of cars and trees were set ablaze during the violence, which has sparked outrage among Palestinian communities. The situation remains tense, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. Strong Santa Ana winds have been making it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze, with gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour in some areas. The hot and dry conditions are expected to persist through Saturday, further increasing the risk of fires spreading. In a separate incident, violence erupted in the West Bank as dozens of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians gathered for their autumn olive harvest. The settlers set cars and trees ablaze, while masked men chased and beat people with gas canisters. More than a dozen people were injured across at least eight villages, including American photojournalist Heidi Levine from The Washington Post. She described the attackers as "monsters who are giving Israel a bad name worldwide. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence but questioned the circumstances surrounding the assault, saying they remain unclear and under investigation, while The Washington Post expressed outrage over the attack on one of their journalists. President Trump has expressed his disapproval of Ukraine's decision to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, calling it a disgrace". This move comes after a brief pause in such attacks following Trump's declaration of an energy cease-fire on Sunday. However, Russia continued its own strikes despite the temporary halt by Ukraine. The situation remains volatile as both sides engage in intense military activities, with Kyiv facing significant challenges in its efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression. The humanitarian crisis is deepening in Ukraine, with reports emerging that at least 15 people were injured nationwide due to recent Russian attacks. Furthermore, a sharp increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties has been reported over the past few weeks, according to official figures. Meanwhile, the Vatican has announced that Pope Leo held a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin today, during which he expressed his deep concern for the humanitarian situation in the occupied town of Oleshky near the front lines. The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin supports the Vatican's call for humanitarian aid to reach residents in a occupied town. Meanwhile, new images of Pope Leo have been released by the Vatican, showing him celebrating mass at a hospital in Rome where he is being treated following his recent lung cancer surgery. Church officials indicate that Pope Leo plans to deliver traditional prayers this Sunday, although it remains unclear whether he will do so from the Vatican or remotely from the hospital. --- Source: [PBS NewsHour Politics](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-zacharia-out-as-white-house-press-secretary-after-less-than-a-week-on-the-job) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/katie-zacharia-steps-down-as-white-house-press-secretary-amid/