The rumor emerged in the wake of Katie Zacharia’s sudden exit from her role as press secretary, which followed a widely criticized and difficult briefing debut.
WASHINGTON, DC: Following the unexpected departure of Katie Zacharia from her position as White House press secretary, social media began buzzing with a fabricated claim: that President Donald Trump had named former Congressman and convicted fraudster George Santos as her successor. Naturally, the bizarre rumor prompted widespread speculation and a necessary fact-check.
Claim: Trump appointed George Santos to replace Katie Zacharia
A widely shared Facebook post claimed that Trump selected the disgraced former New York Representative Santos to take over the podium.
The post humorously alleged that upon being chosen, Santos told reporters he was “thrilled” with the appointment and vowed to bring his extensive “experience not only as a lawyer, but as a doctor and astronaut” to the West Wing.
It also featured a fake parting quote from Zacharia, suggesting she stepped down “to spend more time with my children, who will teach me to read.”
While many social media users immediately recognized the absurdity, the post still pulled in tens of thousands of views, with a portion of the audience taking the claim at face value or demanding clarification.
Fact Check: No such announcement was made by Trump
Although Zacharia officially left her post on Friday, October 16—lasting a mere five days after a turbulent debut and heavy scrutiny regarding her professional credentials—there is zero truth to the rumor that Trump tapped Santos for the job.
A review of official channels reveals no statements, press conferences, or social media updates from either the president or the White House indicating that Santos is joining the administration.
An announcement of this magnitude would undoubtedly make front-page news across mainstream media networks. However, a search for the claim yields no legitimate journalistic reports.
The source of the rumor offers a clear explanation: it originated from a Facebook page belonging to Andy Borowitz, the creator of the well-known satirical publication *The Borowitz Report*. Consequently, the claim is entirely satirical and meant purely for entertainment.
Looking Back at Katie Zacharia’s Brief Tenure
The viral joke emerged shortly after reports surfaced that Trump had encouraged Zacharia to step down amid intense media pressure.
Her departure leaves the White House temporarily without a primary spokesperson, though the president indicated he is in no hurry to name a replacement.
Zacharia stepped into the role on Monday, October 12, and hosted her debut press briefing the following day. The rocky session lasted just 14 minutes, during which she answered only three questions from reporters and heavily relied on notes to highlight administration milestones.
Questions regarding her qualifications immediately followed the briefing, especially after a particularly awkward exchange where she was asked where she had passed the bar exam, leading her to answer, “When I was in China.”