A look back at President Trump’s past White House press secretaries

NBC News has released a video retrospective on the people who have served as President Trump's White House press secretaries, arriving just as Katie Zacharia left the job after only five days. The segment, presented by NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin and dated Oct. 17, 2026, traces the succession of spokespeople who have faced reporters on Trump's behalf, from the earliest days to the latest departure.

It opens with Sean Spicer, whose first briefing went viral and is tied to the birth of "alternative facts," and closes with Zacharia's abrupt exit. NBC News also gave that exit its own special report, covering her departure after five days in the role.

Other NBC News video items add context on Zacharia's short tenure. One states that she did not pass the California bar exam, and another covers her response to a controversy over a lawyer claim. Meanwhile, the network's political coverage shows Trump stepping up campaign travel to support vulnerable Republicans, and notes that Cook Political Report has shifted 11 House races toward Democrats.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →