A new press secretary was hired by the Trump administration last week.
Posted by Real Time with Bill Maher, Checked
- Sources
- 4 contradict5 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
Real Time with Bill MaherOct 24, 2026
The core assertion holds: Trump named Katie Zacharia as his new White House press secretary, and the sources agree on that. However, the sources date the hire to October 9, about two weeks before the October 24 post, so 'last week' does not match. Zacharia was also fired on October 16, but that does not affect whether she was hired.
What was said
… There is just something thrilling about being announced when you're in the White House, that moment when you're outside the Oval Office and you hear the aide say, "Sir, your seven o'clock low ratings dummy is here." But the dinner went on for four hours, slightly longer than the press secretary hired last week. I she i met her. She seems nice. I feel bad for her. They threw her in the deep end, but still, I lasted longer on prom night. I mean, but okay, but yes, it went a long time. I had a lot to bitch about. …
Real Time with Bill Maher · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Measured from the October 24 posting date, 'last week' would refer to roughly October 17–23 or October 12–18. The hire was announced October 9 and she started October 12–13, so the timing in the claim is off by about a week or more.[4][5][6][7]
Supports. Multiple outlets report that Trump chose conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, with the announcement made on October 9, 2026.[4][5]
Context. Reuters and other outlets report Zacharia was fired on October 16, less than a week into the job. This is a later development and does not make the hiring claim false as of the date it was made.[1][8][9]
Context. The claim's reference to the Trump administration matches the post's context, which concerns Trump's White House, so the actor is resolved correctly.[2][3]
Sources
9 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 1 primary, 1 tier 1, 4 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1White House press secretary Zacharia fired in less than a week after facing criticismreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2Katie Zacharia, Trump's new White House press secretary ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3Katie Zacharia Delivers Powerful Inaugural Briefing as ...whitehouse.gov · primary source · cited for: context
- 4Commentator Katie Zacharia picked as new White House ...bbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 5Katie Zacharia appointed White House press secretary ...abc7.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 6Trump announces new White House press secretary's debutyahoo.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 7Katie Zacharia Blames 'the Media' for Her Short Stint as ...people.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 8An Unpredictable President, a Grim White House: Trump Faces Down the Midtermsnytimes.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 9Trump's new press secretary out after less than weekthedailystar.net · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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