Polymarket has launched a new prediction market betting on exactly when White House press secretary Katie Zacharia will be fired following her first appearance at the podium, the Independent reports. Traders began placing bets on her tenure shortly after her initial press briefing took place on the morning of Tuesday, November 19.
As of the evening of Tuesday, November 19, the odds of Zacharia being ousted by the end of the month sit at 8 percent. It seems like the real concern for her supporters is the upcoming holiday season, as there is a 29 percent chance currently priced in for her departure by December 31.
The briefing itself lasted only 14 minutes and was characterized by some visible nerves from Zacharia. She managed to stumble through remarks that focused on the perceived wins of President Donald Trump before taking questions from three conservative outlets and ending the session. This was a notable shift from her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, who was known for frequently sparring with journalists during her time at the lectern.
The market activity suggests that many people are skeptical about her long-term prospects in the role
People are already drawing comparisons to Anthony Scaramucci, who famously held the position of White House communications director for a record-short 10 days back in 2017. Criminal defense lawyer Scott Greenfield posted on X, “What’s the over/under that she doesn’t last a Scaramucci?”
Even Scaramucci himself got involved in the conversation. After independent journalist George Sisca suggested that Scaramucci might be pleased about the performance because his own record could be broken, Scaramucci replied on X, “Not me. I hope she makes it.”
The internal reaction seems equally divided. One former Trump official who is still close to the administration described the debut to Andrew Feinberg as “a train wreck.” This same individual had previously referred to the appointment as a “joke hire” who would likely be “gone in six months.”
On the other hand, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung took a very different stance. He defended her performance on X, writing, “She commanded the room and effectively reminded the American people of all the great work President Trump and his Administration has done thus far.” He also called the briefing a “tremendous start.”
Before taking this role, Zacharia worked as a senior communications advisor for the Truth Social platform. Her background also includes time as a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax, along with a brief stint on the Department of Homeland Security press team from February to March.
The position had been vacant for over a month following the departure of Karoline Leavitt in late August. Leavitt left the post to focus on her family, a move that President Donald Trump described as a loss at the time. While speaking to reporters in late August, he mentioned how popular the role had become, noting, “I have never had so many job applications in my life. They all want that job. They love that job. She’s made that job very glamorous.”
During the month-long gap, others like Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche stepped in to handle the duties of the press secretary.
Published: Oct 14, 2026 06:07 pm