Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the job she used to hold “obviously was not” for Katie Zacharia, who lasted five days as press secretary before exiting earlier this month.

In what appears to be her first time speaking on the issue, Leavitt told Fox News Digital that being the White House press secretary “is a tough job.”

“Many people say it’s one of the hardest jobs in politics. It takes a lot of preparation. Sometimes you don’t know how someone will perform until they go out there,” she said. “As the president said, we wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her.”

Leavitt was President Donald Trump’s press secretary from the beginning of his second term until August, when she stepped down to spend more time with her family. She now works as an on-air contributor with Fox News while remaining a close adviser to the president.

“I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well,” Leavitt said. “Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump. He knows he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal and can go out there and put up a fight.”

Zacharia’s exit came after intense backlash to her 14-minute debut press conference, in which she choppily read from a script and called on just three reporters from MAGA-friendly outlets.

She also faced heat over the legitimacy of her legal background. Two days after the shaky briefing, Zacharia admitted she had never passed the bar exam despite positioning herself as a “lawyer” on social media.

Zacharia said this week that she’s proud of her record five-day stint as press secretary.

“Answering the president’s call to serve was an honor, and my kids were able to see their mom step up for one of the most sought-after jobs in the world,” she told California Post editor Joel Pollack in an interview published Monday in the New York Post.

“I’m proud I said yes, stood firm in what I believe, and kept supporting the president even when the circumstances weren’t ideal for me – showing my children what courage looks like in the face of criticism.”

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.