Zacharia Sought Hannity Interview, Texts Dispute Politico’s Claim of Wiles’ Involvement
Texts show former press secretary Zacharia sought Hannity interview, countering Politico’s claim that Wiles orchestrated the meeting.
4 min read
WASHINGTON — Text messages obtained by Breitbart News reveal that former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia actively sought media interviews, including with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, in the days leading up to her appearance on the show. The documents directly contradict a recent Politico report that claimed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles “set up” and orchestrated the interview, which took place on the eve of President Donald Trump offering Zacharia an off-ramp from her five-day tenure as press secretary.
Texts Show Zacharia Initiated Contact
The messages, reviewed by Breitbart, show that Zacharia reached out to a Fox News producer on Tuesday afternoon, hours after her press briefing, offering to do an interview with Hannity that night. However, President Trump was scheduled to speak at a rally in Alaska that evening, and the interview did not materialize.
According to the texts, the Fox producer wrote, “Katie said she can join us from the rally tonight.” A White House official responded, “I don’t believe the timing works,” and shortly after added, “the president would be speaking in the hour that Hannity’s show airs, 9 p.m. Eastern, or would have just finished speaking.”
Zacharia later expressed her desire to do “news hits morning and evening” in a Wednesday morning message to a White House official. She followed up with, “If you could book those m-f” and “To the extent possible.” Zacharia ultimately joined Hannity on Thursday night, confirming the interview had been arranged by her own initiative.
Politico Relies on Anonymous Sources
The Politico article, titled “Susie Wiles helped set up Fox interview ahead of press secretary’s exit,” makes no mention of the text messages that directly contradict its narrative. Instead, it relies on anonymous sources, one of whom claimed that Wiles and White House spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez “fed” Zacharia to Hannity.
A White House official told Breitbart that a reporter who provided the information acknowledged that editors would not remove Wiles from the story because she was the “hook.” The article followed two separate Politico pieces, the first of which claimed Trump was weighing replacing Wiles with one of five people. Trump called the narrative “bullshit” and provided an on-the-record statement to the publication.
“TOTAL FAKE NEWS Politico doesn’t care about facts, integrity, or honest journalism — it’s why I kicked them out of the White House!” the president said. “Susie Wiles is my loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff — there is a reason for that. She has been with me since the beginning, is my trusted advisor, and has my COMPLETE confidence. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The second article was a follow-up, claiming the first piece caused a “freakout” in the West Wing after Executive and Special Assistant to the President Natalie Harp printed it to show Trump. Trump, as mentioned, provided a comment for the story that was claimed to cause the “freakout,” but, according to a White House official, Politico’s reporters knew he had been briefed on it before publication because of how the White House and president worked with reporters to handle the inquiry. Despite this, Politico still ran the story that the first piece caused a “freakout.”
White House Condemns Politico’s Reporting
A White House official told Breitbart News, “These latest hit jobs expose the disgraceful direction of Politico under its new leadership which prioritizes sensational headlines and clickbait over facts and journalistic integrity. Once a serious news outlet, Politico has devolved into a personality-driven tabloid that peddles gossip, anonymous smears, and manufactured drama.”
The official added, “Sensationalism has replaced substance, personal attacks have replaced reporting, and journalistic integrity is nonexistent. Politico is sacrificing its credibility for cheap clicks and it’s shameful.”
The text messages, which show Zacharia’s proactive efforts to secure interviews, serve as a direct rebuttal to the Politico narrative that Wiles orchestrated the event. The White House official emphasized that the texts provide irrefutable evidence that Zacharia took the initiative, and that Politico’s reliance on anonymous sources undermines its credibility.
Broader Context of Media Scrutiny
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the White House and major media outlets, particularly Politico, which has faced criticism for its perceived bias and lack of factual rigor. The White House has repeatedly called out Politico for its alleged sensationalism and for publishing unverified claims that damage the administration’s reputation.
The controversy surrounding Zacharia’s interview and the role of Wiles also raises questions about the internal dynamics within the White House, particularly as Trump prepares to make decisions about key advisors. The texts suggest that Zacharia was eager to maintain her visibility and influence even as her tenure as press secretary neared its end.
Conclusion and Implications
The release of the text messages by Breitbart News has reignited debates about the role of media in shaping public perception of political figures and the importance of factual accuracy in journalism. The White House’s strong condemnation of Politico underscores its frustration with what it perceives as a decline in journalistic standards.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on the integrity of the media and the responsibility of news organizations to report facts accurately and without bias. The Zacharia-Hannity interview controversy serves as a microcosm of a larger issue in modern journalism: the balance between investigative reporting and the pursuit of sensational headlines.
Source: Breitbart
