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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used back-to-back monologues this week to deliver a series of personal insults directed at newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, prompting a scathing response from the White House.
During Tuesday’s episode of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Zacharia’s first White House press briefing, the comedian called her “Malibu Katie” and mocked her intelligence.
“I want to introduce you to the new kid in Trump land. It was the first day of kindergarten for the new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia,” Kimmel said.
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Jimmy Kimmel slammed Katie Zacharia for two nights on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” prompting a response from the White House. (Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Kimmel also suggested Zacharia was appointed to keep President Donald Trump “awake and interested,” saying that “every six months they bring in a new fawning blonde dolt to add to the rotation.”
“Things did not get off to a great start for Malibu Katie today,” he continued. “Her first briefing was brief. It was only 14 minutes long. But even in that short time, she accomplished exactly what she was brought in to do, which is slobber a whole tube of lip gloss all over the president’s behind.”
The White House responded to Kimmel’s monologues in statements to Fox News Digital.
“Jimmy Kimmel is a no-talent loser who has beclowned himself with tanking ratings and by spewing disgusting lies to his dwindling audience,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said. “He is so devoid of actual talent that nobody with any common sense would ever watch him unless it was to laugh at his miserable failures.”
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White House press secretary Katie Zacharia arrives to a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
White House communications director Steven Cheung also defended the new press secretary, praising her qualifications in a statement to Fox News Digital in response to Kimmel’s attacks.
“Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team. She is uniquely qualified and whip-smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as press secretary,” Cheung told Fox News Digital.
Tuesday marked Kimmel’s second consecutive night of mocking Zacharia. On Monday, before her first briefing, the host displayed a gym selfie of Zacharia wearing workout gear while joking about her intelligence.
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“This is the new press secretary, former Newsmax commentator Katie Zacharia, seen here, thinking,” Kimmel said. He added that her qualifications for the role were having “blonde hair” and being able to “do a thumbs up.”
Zacharia held her first official White House press briefing Tuesday, days after Trump announced her appointment on Friday. She previously served as a senior communications advisor to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social platform.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!” Trump wrote.
“I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration.”
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The New York Times described Zacharia’s first briefing as a “bumpy debut.” During the 14-minute session, she referred to her husband, Tyler Zacharia, as “my president” before immediately correcting herself.
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