Trump\u2019s chief of staff allegedly helped set up Katie Zacharia\u2019s Fox News interview that was so disastrous she left the role hours later<\/h3>\n
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Connor Stringer,<\/span> Chief Washington Correspondent. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Will Steakin.<\/span> <\/span><\/span>Sophia Cai<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Donald Trump\u2019s most senior aide allegedly helped to set up a tough Fox News interview with the new White House press secretary in what has been described as a \u201csanctioned hit\u201d.<\/p>\n Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, helped set up Katie Zacharia\u2019s appearance on Thursday night, when the embattled new press secretary<\/a> struggled to answer questions about her rocky first days on the job, those familiar with the internal dynamics told The Telegraph and Politico.<\/p>\n She departed the role just hours later<\/a>.<\/p>\n The interview with Sean Hannity descended into a pointed examination of Mrs Zacharia\u2019s first press briefing<\/a> and her legal credentials amid questions over whether she had misrepresented herself as an attorney, despite never passing the bar exam.<\/p>\n One source described the appearance as a \u201csanctioned hit\u201d on Mrs Zacharia, who was not Ms Wiles\u2019s preferred choice<\/a> to replace Karoline Leavitt.<\/p>\n A second person familiar with the matter noted that Ms Wiles and Mr Hannity are close, adding: \u201c[White House spokesperson] Danielle [Alvarez] and Susie fed her to Hannity,\u201d .<\/p>\n A senior White House official said: \u201cSusie and Sean do talk, but Susie did not need to feed [Mrs Zacharia] to Sean or anybody else. It\u2019s not her style.\u201d<\/p>\n They added: \u201cAnd Hannity wasn\u2019t the nail in her coffin; her hit this morning was, as well as her weird answer on being a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs Zacharia declined to comment, but confirmed her exit on X and said it was an \u201chonor\u201d to work with Mr Trump.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n