Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer urged President Donald Trump to weigh government knowledge and press experience in his next hire after Katie Zacharia was fired five days into the role, NDTV reported.
Spicer spoke with News24, an Australian outlet. Journalist Andrew Bolt asked whether Trump placed too much weight on a candidate’s appearance and agreement with him. Spicer praised Zacharia’s advocacy for Trump’s America First agenda, but estimated that appearance and loyalty account for about 20% of the job.
A press secretary also needs to know how government works and handle the practical demands of dealing with reporters, Spicer said. He pointed to experience with the White House press corps and said candidates should assess their own strengths and weaknesses before taking the position.
Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt after Leavitt left in late August to be with her family, NDTV reported. Zacharia’s first press briefing lasted less than 15 minutes, according to the outlet.
Spicer resigned from the role in July 2017 after six months. NDTV reported that in an August interview, he called it his toughest job, even after 27 years in the military.
