Trump's New Press Secretary STRUGGLES in Fox Interviews

[0:00] It's not going well for the press secretary, Katie Zakaria, and something very interesting [0:05] happened. So she did not have a strong debut. That was clear. I remain open-minded to a strong [0:13] follow-up, right? Like she was nervous. It's scary to be out there. You could make the case [0:18] she shouldn't have been chosen for this role if she can't perform well under nerves and under [0:22] the spotlight. Okay, but let's just see. Okay, I feel like they're being so hard on her and they [0:27] totally gave Corrine Jean-Pierre a total pass, and all she did was read. So I object to the [0:32] double standard. She never actually looked into the camera and spoke extemporaneously. She only [0:36] read her stupid notebook, and what was in there wasn't very persuasive. So this girl's at least [0:40] trying to speak extemporaneously, though it's not going all that well. So she goes on Fox News [0:46] last night. Now, with respect to Sean Hannity, this is not a dig. This is just a truism. He's [0:52] basically the spokesperson for Trump. He doesn't do anything that's going to upset Trump, who he [0:57] considers his best friend. Oh, yeah. He told me that personally. And so he's not going to go out [1:04] there and try to like undermine him. But he gets the president's new secretary, press secretary, on [1:09] and did not go easy on her. Which one should we start with, Steve? 49 or 49B? All right, we'll start [1:19] with stop 49. Watch. Why not just say I went to Pepperdine Law School and then took a different [1:25] career path. And I took the bar once and didn't pass it. Why get into this long drawn out definition [1:31] between the difference between a lawyer and an attorney? Because I don't think most people see [1:35] much of a distinction. Why didn't you just say I never practiced law? Well, Sean, I when I moved back [1:42] from the United States, I didn't retake the bar. I had four kids in six years. It was never my intent to go [1:47] into the practice of law. When I was at when I went to go engage in media and give legal analysis, [1:53] I consulted attorneys and legal professionals as to whether or not they agreed that I could be [1:58] labeled a lawyer, both because I had a valid jurist doctor from a good law school, a reputable law [2:05] school, Pepperdine Law School. And in conjunction with the fact that I did have actual substantive legal [2:10] experience, I wasn't providing any legal analysis, Sean, or excuse me, legal advice. I wasn't being paid for [2:17] legal advice. I was giving a general review of the legal circumstances surrounding it. [2:25] OK, now that is a reference to the fact that she held herself out as a lawyer. I mean, we have a long, [2:31] long, butted soundbite soundbite. I could play for you if her calling herself a lawyer [2:34] when she's not. She graduated from law school, but she failed the California bar exam and she never took [2:40] the California bar exam again. A press pool shouted at her, where did you pass the bar exam? And she said [2:48] China, where she did go after law school and I guess did some the equivalent of like internship [2:55] work over there, not actual legal work. She did not pass a bar exam in China, nor would that be relevant [3:00] to whether she's a legitimate lawyer here. And then she later said she had misheard the question [3:06] and had to admit that she is not licensed to practice law anywhere and never has been. She failed [3:11] the bar and she never got her law license. And now is making an excuse about how she said lawyer, [3:17] but not attorney because somebody told her she could say that. Look, I don't tolerate this. [3:22] You held yourself out as a lawyer. You knew very well what everybody would think when you said you [3:27] were a lawyer. You were on television commenting on legal matters using that title. And that's a hard [3:34] no. So I have zero problem with the press pushing her on this. And when she was asked about why you did [3:43] that on Fox and Friends this morning, like, why did you do that? She just said nobody at the, [3:52] they asked, do you wish you had explained this, disclosed this to President Trump? She said, [3:58] no one asked. Oh, okay. All right. So it's on the resume. One would assume she put it on the [4:05] resume. And it's out in the public. Like it's up to you. If you've duped people, especially somebody [4:11] like President Trump and to believe that you have a very important degree and that you could [4:15] potentially be a real asset to him based on your legal experience to disclose that you may have [4:20] overstated the case a bit. Right. Okay. Okay. So this is, can I ask you a question? Is there a [4:24] difference between lawyer and attorney? I mean, no. Okay. Thank you. But apparently she has found [4:29] one person at Pepperdine Law School to say so, who's now getting so dragged on X that they've had to [4:34] close their account and shut off all comments. The point to me though, is not even whether there's a [4:40] difference, you know, under somebody's definition. The point is, you know, very well, if you say [4:43] you're a lawyer, people think that you're an actual lawyer with a license to practice law. [4:47] Of course. It's like saying you're a doctor when you just graduated from med school, but you didn't [4:51] actually go through an internship in a residency and become an attending physician. Like we, people [4:56] would like to know that distinction. You can, you can, you can tell them most people haven't been to [5:01] med school. So you have something more than I have. You have an MD. I don't have an MD. Right. [5:05] But if you say I'm a lawyer and then give legal commentary, of course, everybody believes you're [5:10] doing that because you've had experience in the field and you've practiced law. We are less than [5:14] a month out and the midterms are coming at us like a freight train. Make no mistake. If the house flips, [5:19] it's a big deal for our economy. And it might be the Senate too. That uncertainty is one of the [5:25] reasons to consider diversifying with gold from Birch Gold Group. In the three months leading up to the [5:30] 2024 presidential election, the spot price of gold jumped more than 12%. Why? Because it's a hedge [5:38] against uncertainty. If you do not own gold, consider talking with Birch Gold. They will discuss your [5:44] goals and explain how precious metals can fit into your savings. They can even help you convert an [5:49] existing IRA or 401k into an IRA in gold for no additional money out of pocket. And if you want to [5:55] just do a portion of your IRA into gold, they'll let you do that too. They'll walk you through. [5:59] Honestly, just text the letters MK to the number 989898 and they will give you a free info kit. [6:06] Wouldn't you like to know about gold? Everybody is diversifying into it. The midterms are going to [6:11] be here before you know it. So try to do it sooner rather than later. Text MK to 989898 today. [6:17] Just ask Sunny Hostin every five seconds as a former federal prosecutor, her predecessor, [6:23] Star Jones. I am a lawyer. That was always what she said. This is what I kind of, [6:29] I feel like this culture in terms of language linguistics, we've moved so far away from [6:34] binaries when they exist. Either you're a lawyer or you're not. Did you lie or did you not? It's not [6:41] a misrepresentation. It's not that we misunderstand her. She lied. [6:46] Yeah. It's puffery at a minimum. At best for her, it's puffery where you build yourself up into [6:52] having more or being more than you actually do or are. But you know, the problem is there's such [6:58] hypocrisy in the mainstream media that doesn't care. They want us to call El Sayed a doctor, [7:03] even though he's in the same position. He's not a practicing physician and they're giving him a [7:09] total pass. They literally lectured people like me publicly everywhere for not calling Dr. Jill Biden [7:16] a doctor. We all know that that is a complete stretch and everyone knows if you want to be [7:21] called a doctor. It's so like, it's a little much to be lectured by these people. Okay. But [7:28] separate and apart from the lawyer thing, which I'm not on her side on, Hannity did not leave it at [7:36] that. Like he was needling her, which does tell me her neck is probably on the chopping block because [7:41] I don't think Trump would have allowed that. I don't think Hannity would have done that if he [7:45] didn't think Trump wanted him to, or Trump also had questions about her. That's just my own take. [7:50] I could be wrong, but here's that, uh, 49 B time. I received briefing materials in the morning [7:57] of Tuesday and I went to deliver all of the great results that president Trump is delivering for the [8:04] American people that are not often spread in the national media. So I took it as an opportunity [8:10] so people would know what he's doing for Americans and how hard he's working. And then I delivered [8:16] some breaking news. Uh, I think I'm one of the first press secretaries to deliver staff changes [8:22] for the administration. And I was, uh, honored that president Trump trusted me delivering that [8:28] information. I can give you, uh, some unsolicited advice. That's never going to be a friendly room to [8:34] you. Yeah. So what I, what I would say is I would absolutely be very well prepared on the briefing, [8:42] Sean, and I would love, and I do love questions and I would love to build a relationship with all of [8:49] those members of the press corps. So there is a substantive, uh, component to us having an ability [8:55] ability to interact. It's not going well. So I read yesterday, I believe, cause I, I just love palace [9:06] intrigue period that, um, Trump reportedly pulled the trigger on Katie while Susie Wiles was like out [9:15] of pocket, you know, his chief of staff. I've read that she's not a fan and she did not want her [9:21] either. And is Susie Wiles now on the chopping block because she's been iced out of some major [9:26] administrative decisions. Um, I just, this bums me out. This bums me out because it's, [9:34] there is truth to what they say about Trump and central casting. And this is kind of his preferred [9:40] central casting. And I, I understand it's early days for her, but I don't think this is an on the [9:46] job training position. You have to come out guns blazing. Honey's right. That job, that is an [9:50] oppositional room. That's it. She's there to like say what the administration wants and never deviate [9:55] for, from those talking points, no matter what they are. You need a warrior. You need a warrior [9:59] out there. You need someone with really thick skin or like an asshole, like Jen Psaki, who could just [10:03] be really condescending when you ask a question she doesn't have the answer to, like an Ivy league [10:08] asshole. Yes, yes, yes. I know. That's the thing. I mean, I do, I will say in Katie's defense, it's very [10:13] hard to follow Caroline Lovett. Like if I were advising her, I would say the next time she gets asked [10:18] this question, she should say Caroline Lovett is a very tough act to follow. And I promise I will do my best [10:25] to try to measure up. It may take me a while. Yeah, that's it. Just be humble. Don't ramble on what [10:31] every time she's been asked about this on Hannity, on Fox and Friends, she goes into a lengthy ramble [10:37] about how amazing Donald Trump is. It's embarrassing. It's a sycophant type response. Like I know I'm bad [10:44] at this, but I love Donald Trump so much that I'll just kiss ass so that I can keep this job, which may be [10:50] clever, you know, maybe smart, but is very undermining to her own credibility. Just own [10:56] it. Say, you know what? I have been stumbling this week. I'm a little nervous. It's harder to do than [11:03] I thought it was. But substantively, I will get there. You know, my performance, my smoothness on [11:09] the air, that may take me a while. And I ask for your patience. Say that. Have a little humility. [11:15] Yeah. Yes. And also if I were her and I felt like over my head, I would be sure to be locked in a [11:22] room with the best media consultants possible. Learn how to answer a question succinctly. Learn [11:27] how to pivot. Learn how to speak extemporaneously without struggling for your words or repeating your [11:32] words or not being sure of the message you want to get across. I mean, in lesser positions, you get [11:38] this. Like I'm sure Doug has had this or, you know, being married to you. But like when you're getting [11:42] ready to promote a book, if you've never done press before, they put you in a room, a publisher, [11:46] and they media train you. Oh, he did not have that. No. But he probably was fine. But he gets [11:50] that at dinner every night. Fun for him. Like a version of the Kennedys. Tell me your big three [11:57] talking points of today's news. Did you or did you not? Yes. Yes, exactly. Okay. Here's one more. [12:03] This is Sat 50. This is her on Fox and Friends this morning. When's the next press briefing? Will you [12:08] have another one? Well, I'll be working in close coordination with the communications department, [12:13] the president, to determine when the best next time for a press briefing is. And I'm really looking [12:18] forward to working with the press, looking with the journal, working with all of the journalists [12:21] and everyone here. And it's really a true privilege. And I am excited to do it. And it's going to be a [12:28] wonderful journey. And we have a lot to look forward to as a country. And there is no better president [12:33] to work for than President Trump. He is just the most hardworking, incredible man. And I'm grateful to be here. [12:39] Katie, do you? And it's a tough question. Do you think you still have the confidence of the [12:43] president? I'm standing here and I was able to travel with him through all of the midterm [12:51] convention or excuse me, the midterm rallies. And I hope to be able to build the trust and [12:56] confidence of everyone around me. Oh, I feel bad for her. I do. I feel like you're right. They need [13:04] to get her into a room and murder board her right away. Like it should be nonstop. She should not be [13:08] looking at the news at all. She should just be behind closed doors getting drilled over and over [13:12] with hard questions. And like, you can't start over again. You have to say it. You have to complete [13:17] the thought. There's no ums. There's no ahs. There's no complimenting President Trump. Stop [13:22] it. You sound like you're with Pravda. And just, you know, stay on point. I don't, I'm not sure. [13:27] I mean, it's been a very rocky week for her. A rocky start. I hope she makes it. I do. I hope [13:31] she proves her doubters wrong, but she's going to need to practice a lot. It's reminding me a lot [13:36] of Sarah Palin. Oh God. It is, you know, or it's like you, you would think like if SNL [13:41] were not off this week, this would be a skit. You know what I mean? Like, let's just keep going. [13:45] Well, I, do you have the confidence of the president? Well, I was able to travel with him [13:50] and I, you know, and while I'm standing here, I'm standing, I'm standing here, aren't I? Or am [13:53] I technically sitting? I don't know what, you know, it's like, it's just, there are some people [13:57] who as mediagenic as Sarah Palin was, even if you think she was not that bright, which [14:03] I did and do, she was mediagenic, but she couldn't get it down. She couldn't get it down. [14:11] You know, and especially Katie has to know she's talking to outside of Fox, a media that [14:16] is openly hostile to her and that administration. They would love nothing more than to see her [14:21] head roll by day five. You know, the one thing she's got going for her is she seems sweet [14:27] like, I will say she seems like a sweet gal to me, which again, query why she's in this [14:31] role because they'll eat you alive. But I mean, maybe she should lean into that and just like [14:36] be her nice self, like be self-deprecating, own your flaws, work on them. But the one thing [14:42] you're going to have to know forward and backward is like substance. If you are sloppy in the delivery, [14:46] but you know, the substance cold, I think you could get forgiven even by this nasty press [14:51] corps, like give them real answers. You know, the problem is generally this role does require [14:57] a bulldog. Yeah. And what Republicans want to see is a fight. Yeah, that that's one of [15:01] the reasons they liked Kayleigh McEnany that they liked Caroline Levitt, because they were [15:06] they were not afraid of these, you know, just vultures in that room, right? They gave as [15:12] good as they got. So if you're not able to do that, you better at least be substantively [15:16] rock solid. She's got a lot of homework to do. We'll see. After Hannity, the closest people [15:22] to Trump at Fox are Fox and Friends. Oh, really? So that was a one to punch by the two groups [15:27] of people closest to him at Fox. And I do wonder whether this was some sort of decision, you [15:36] know, to hobble her or to telegraph she's going. I don't know. I don't know. [15:41] Thanks for watching this clip. If you're new here, subscribe. We got a whole lot more goodness [15:45] where that came from. Would love to hear your feedback. You can email me to Megan, M-E-G-Y-N [15:51] at MeganKelley.com or just leave a comment below. But join the community by becoming a subscriber. [15:57] We really, really value your input and your support. We may not always agree, but we are [16:02] always going to talk about it and respect. No BS, no agenda, no fear.