Former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was seen in Los Angeles after her five-day spell in the administration ended abruptly.

The 41-year-old was asked to resign on Friday, following a widely criticized first press briefing and revelations that she had never passed the bar exam, despite presenting herself as an attorney.

On Monday, the mother of four stepped out in Los Angeles, California, wearing a blue-and-red workout outfit that highlighted her toned abs and bore a striking resemblance to the costumes associated with Superwoman and Superman.

The outing marked her first public appearance since she was dramatically removed from the position on Friday.

Over the weekend, reports claimed Zacharia had been speaking with a Wall Street Journal reporter when a colleague pulled her aside.

She excused herself, telling the reporter she would be gone for only a few minutes, but never returned.

Soon afterward, her new boss, President Trump, answered questions from reporters at his new helipad and said he had asked Zacharia to reconsider taking the job.

‘I said, “Is this for you Katie? Because honestly, you don’t need this,”‘ Trump told reporters.

Asked whether he still had confidence in her, the president replied: ‘I don’t know. We’ll see. I’m gonna let her make that decision.’

Trump’s comments signaled the end of what became the shortest tenure by a White House press secretary in US history.

Her time in the position was even briefer than Anthony Scaramucci’s notorious 11-day run as White House communications director in 2017, during Trump’s first term.

Earlier this year, Zacharia had spent only six weeks as a communications adviser at the Department of Homeland Security.

Her week-long stint as press secretary was both swift and turbulent. The sole briefing she held lasted just 14 minutes and was widely ridiculed online.

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Even typically Trump-friendly Fox News hosts questioned her performance, which stood in sharp contrast to that of her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt resigned in August after a successful 18 months in the role.

Zacharia struggled with her prepared remarks, repeatedly stumbling and stuttering. At one point, she referred to the president as her husband.

Her appointment as press secretary had surprised many. Her background included six weeks at Homeland Security, appearances on conservative media, a position at Trump Media and a legal career that soon faced scrutiny.

When asked earlier in the week whether she had passed the bar exam, Zacharia said she had taken it in China, where she worked after graduating from Pepperdine University Law School.

That baffled reporters since the test isn’t offered there, and US citizens typically cannot take Chinese legal exams.

She later cleared up that she never passed the bar exam since it wasn’t necessary for her job in China, where the US qualification would not have carried water.

In a tense interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night, she acknowledged that she failed the California bar exam in 2011, never retook it and considered the results inconsequential.

As the segment ended, she promised Hannity she would be very prepared going forward and would step up to the duty the President had given her.

In an interview on Friday morning with Fox News about her ‘tough week,’ Zacharia was pressed unusually hard by the hosts once again about why she’s described herself as an attorney in the past.

‘It’s not an easy job to be the press secretary, and you never want to be the story,’ Fox & Friends host Lawrence Jones said. ‘But I have to ask, do you wish you would have disclosed to the president about the bar and not passing the bar?’

‘Well, Lawrence, those questions weren’t asked,’ Zacharia shot back.

‘I’m being hired as White House press secretary and not White House counsel. The conversations and the reason I was hired was to represent the President in the press.’

The President made the decision to hire Zacharia during a 72-hour period last week without consulting his chief of staff Susie Wiles, The Daily Mail previously reported.

Residents in care homes were treated as an “afterthought” during the Covid pandemic and effectively sacrificed in the effort to “protect the NHS”, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has concluded.

More than 43,000 care home residents died after infected hospital patients were discharged into facilities without adequate safeguards, allowing the virus to spread “like wildfire”.

The inquiry chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, said there was no evidence to support former health secretary Matt Hancock’s claim that ministers had placed a “protective ring” around care homes “right from the start”.

Many homes lacked the space and resources to isolate new arrivals safely. Testing was insufficient, while care workers were left without enough personal protective equipment (PPE), forcing some to use bin bags and waterproof ponchos instead.

Measures to protect residents and staff were introduced “too late”, the inquiry found, with “devastating consequences”.

Between March 17 and April 15, 2020, about 25,000 patients were moved from hospitals into care homes as officials sought to free up beds for the expected surge in Covid cases.

As infections raced through the country, visiting bans also left care home residents feeling “isolated, abandoned and alone”. In some cases, they were separated from their families for months.

Restrictions meant people were often unable to sit beside dying relatives or friends in their final moments, leaving families “grief-stricken”.

The Daily Mail campaigned for care home residents to be reunited with their families during the pandemic, calling it “shameful” that “cruel” restrictions had cut them off from loved ones.

MPs later praised the campaign in Parliament. The Government eventually permitted visits ahead of Christmas 2020, with testing and PPE introduced to reduce the risks.

Baroness Hallett said the visiting rules caused “enormous harm”, contributing to a “significant decline” in the wellbeing of some residents, particularly those living with dementia.

Although she welcomed the partial easing of the restrictions, she said the benefits of family contact should have been recognised much earlier.

She concluded: “Many [relatives] remain racked by a guilt that they do not deserve to carry.”

The inquiry found that the Government had been aware before the pandemic that care home residents were “extremely vulnerable” to respiratory viruses. Despite this, they received “insufficient protection at the time they most needed it”.

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The failures were rooted in inadequate planning before the pandemic began.

Exercise Cygnus, a pandemic preparedness programme carried out in October 2016, warned that more work was needed to guarantee sufficient surge capacity in care homes. That work had not been completed when Covid-19 arrived.

The report said completing those preparations might have “helped ensure the safe isolation of all people admitted to care homes”.

Baroness Hallett said: “The adult social care sector as a whole appeared to be something of an afterthought, where the mantra of ‘protecting the NHS’ sometimes came at the expense of the users and providers of care.”

‘The failures set out in this report created environments in care settings in which the virus could spread like wildfire.’

The inquiry examined concerns about ‘Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation’ decisions. 

It found some were made inappropriately or without proper consultation, based on a person’s age, health condition or learning disability.

The failure to give staff adequate PPE was ‘wholly unacceptable’ and the care sector’s role in society has been ‘undervalued and under-recognised’ for too long, it added.

Established in June 2022, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which has cost more than £200million, is expected to publish its final report in the summer of 2027.

The report into the care sector, the sixth of ten modules, has eight key recommendations.

They include better planning for the safe isolation of care home residents, financial support for staff so they can afford to isolate if infected, new guidelines on visiting restrictions and mandatory end-of-life training for health and social care workers.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of trade body Care England, said: ‘Pressure in hospitals must never again be relieved by transferring unmanaged risk into adult social care.

‘The inquiry’s recommendations are essential, but the real test now is implementation.’

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government would respond fully to the report ‘in due course’. 

She added: ‘My thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones in the pandemic, and especially those who endured the immense distress and harm of visiting restrictions in care homes, which meant they could not be with loved ones even as they died. 

‘I also pay tribute to all those who work to protect the most vulnerable in very difficult circumstances, from care workers to family members.’

Halle Berry appeared composed and in good spirits as she arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse Tuesday for the latest hearing in her custody dispute with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.

The Oscar-winning actor has firmly rejected Martinez’s allegations that she physically abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo.

Berry was seen smiling outside the courthouse during the increasingly contentious legal battle involving her former spouse.

She wore a restrained charcoal trouser suit over a checked blouse, completing the look with a coordinating scarf.

Her court appearance came shortly after her fiancé, Van Hunt, testified that Maceo allegedly shoved his mother during a heated confrontation at their home, according to court documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Berry’s representative and attorney for comment.

Hunt, the only identified eyewitness to the September 26 incident involving Berry and her son, said in a public court declaration obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail that Berry shouted, “So, you’re going to fight me now?!” after Maceo allegedly refused to remove his Oculus virtual-reality headset.

In the declaration filed with Los Angeles Superior Court, Hunt said the teenager “aggressively resisted” when Berry attempted to take off the device. Maceo then allegedly threw the headset and shoved his mother, prompting Hunt to step in.

The Grammy-winning musician said Berry and Maceo were shouting at one another and appeared “on the verge of tears” before the teenager began calling his father and gathering his clothes.

Martinez, 60, is seeking sole custody of Maceo, claiming Berry “physically abused” their son in a bombshell filing submitted October 1.

A judge granted Martinez a temporary domestic-violence restraining order against Berry covering both him and their son. The order requires Berry to remain at least 100 yards away from Martinez.

Berry also temporarily lost her 50/50 custody arrangement on October 1. Under the current terms, she may see Maceo only during court-ordered visits twice a week and on alternating weekends.

Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, told the Daily Mail that Martinez’s filing was “entirely meritless,” saying her client is “used to this kind of outrageous conduct” from him.

A judge has since approved Maceo’s testimony in the custody dispute later this month. Berry has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations against her.

Hunt alleged that Martinez had “emboldened” Maceo by allowing the teenager too much control over his own life.

In his declaration, Hunt described his fiancée as a “loving, attentive, highly engaged, forbearing mother” and said she had never been abusive.

He added that he and Maceo had formed a “close relationship” since he began dating Berry six years ago, including five years living together.

On September 26, the day of the alleged incident, Hunt said that Maceo was in ‘great spirits’ and that he and his mother went shopping for birthday gifts; he celebrated his 13th birthday on October 5.

They were back at home when Maceo when Berry went to the boy’s room with Hunt close behind her.

According to his statement, Hunt said he heard Berry say ‘Maceo,’ to which the boy gave a ‘monotone’ reply of ‘Yeh.’

Soon after Maceo called out Hunt’s name ‘playfully,’ which he took to mean his mother was tickling him, Hunt claims.

But then Hunt heard Berry tell Maceo twice that ‘you don’t have anything to prove’ – the second time with a ‘pleading’ in her voice that made Hunt go into the room, he said in the statement.

Hunt added: ‘Halle instructed Maceo to remove the Oculus and asked, ‘So, you’re going to fight me now?!’

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‘Maceo ignored her. Halle reached to remove the headset from over Maceo’s head, but Maceo aggressively resisted and then threw off the headset himself and shoved Halle. I immediately jumped in between them.

‘They started yelling at each other with me standing between them. Maceo began threatening to call Olivier.’

According to Hunt, this was the first time he had ever heard Maceo make such a threat.

He said in his statement: ‘I could also see that both Maceo and Halle were on the verge of tears – they both appeared like they wanted to work things out but didn’t know how; which was heartbreaking to see.

‘Maceo started calling Olivier [his father] and began packing some clothes. Halle did not want Maceo leaving home late in the evening or removing his belongings, but to de-escalate the situation, I encouraged Halle to allow Maceo some space and to take whatever belongings he wanted with him’.

Martinez arrived and took Maceo away. The boy came back to his mother’s house two days later, during which time, Hunt said, their interactions were ‘normal, positive and loving.’ 

According to Hunt, Berry and Martinez have long argued over how best to attend to Maceo’s ‘educational and mental health needs’ which include ‘behavioral challenges and impulse control issues.’

He also claims in the statement that Martinez has ’emboldened’ the boy by giving him too much control over his own life. 

Hunt said he has tried to mediate between Berry and Martinez, having ‘multi-hour conversations’ on the phone with the two.

But, according to Hunt, Martinez would not back down and once said: ‘When she [Berry] stops, I will stop.’

Hunt claimed Martinez resisted all of the suggestions to get help for his son and then changed his tune, claiming that Maceo should be the one to decide, even though he is still a minor.

After Maceo learned of this, he became ’emboldened’ and, after coming back from a visit to his father, he told Berry: ‘I should be the one to decide.’

In his declaration, Hunt also gave fresh insight into Berry’s relationship with Maceo and said they often wrestle with each other, adding that they like roughhousing together.

‘Their interactions are always loving and playful,’ Hunt said.

‘I have never witnessed Halle choke Maceo, place him in a headlock, put her hands around his neck, restrict his breathing, force him to “tap out” or make statements such as: “Who is dominant now?”‘ – a reference to Martinez’s claims.

The only time Hunt heard anyone use the word ‘dominant’ was Maceo when describing his performance after a soccer game.

But this became a source of frustration for Martinez, who chided Hunt for agreeing with Maceo’s concern that he wasn’t strong enough.

According to Hunt, Martinez told him he should ‘have let Maceo dream.’ 

‘I told him that Maceo has plenty of dreams, what he doesn’t need, especially from me – a person who really cares for him – is insincerity,’ Hunt said in the court papers.

Berry and Martinez finalized their divorce in 2023 after a bitter eight-year battle.

The Monster’s Ball star was ordered to pay Martinez $8,000 a month in child support and 4.3 percent of any income she received over $2 million in additional support.

The judge overseeing the case has imposed a restraining order against Berry and will determine if it will stay in place permanently.

Berry’s daughter Nahla Ariela, 18, has already submitted a declaration saying she had never seen her mom being abusive.

A disturbing doorbell-camera video shows a person wearing a Joe Biden mask stopping outside a Texas family’s home to eat a banana.

The unusual encounter was recorded by a Nest camera in Watauga, roughly 35 miles west of Dallas, at about 8:05 p.m. Sunday.

The masked individual approached the house, opened their jacket and revealed a T-shirt bearing the word “FREEDOM.”

The shirt had been popularized by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was wearing it when he was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

The person then peeled the banana, touched the camera twice and grinned, giving viewers a close look at the mask resembling the former president.

They proceeded to eat the banana while appearing to stare into the camera, then turned around and walked away.

Watauga Police Department Chief Jim Lewis acknowledged that the stranger’s “choice of attire and snack may have raised a few eyebrows,” but said neither appeared “to have violated the law at this time.”

“While we can’t explain the costume, the banana, or the apparent political identity crisis, we can confirm that being bizarre is not, in itself, a criminal offense,” Lewis told WFAA.

Lewis said he would leave the interpretation of “political figures and evening snacks to the internet.”

After reviewing the footage, officers found no evidence that a criminal offense had occurred.

No arrests or charges have been made. Lewis said the department nevertheless takes “these types of reports” seriously.

“We encourage residents to continue reporting suspicious activity, even when the circumstances are a little bananas,” he quipped.

The family whose camera recorded the incident told the outlet that the encounter was “scary.” Their identities were not disclosed.

Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood after the masked stranger was reported but were unable to locate the person.

Police said other Watauga residents had also mentioned similar sightings on social media.

However, no additional reports concerning this particular individual had been filed directly with the department.

Police said they did not have the video available to release.

Online viewers quickly focused on the stranger’s clothing as they tried to make sense of the puzzling banana-eating appearance.

‘Wearing the Charlie Kirk shirt??’ one Facebook user asked.

Others were more offended, with one person calling the footage ‘beyond scary and disgusting.’

A separate commenter asked if it was ‘unlawful to eat a banana in a Joe Biden mask while ringing a doorbell.’

‘I think not,’ he said. ‘Might be dangerous to the banana eater!’

Some simply dismissed the stunt as a ‘lame Halloween prank’ and nothing more serious.

‘I guess these are the new Halloween pranks,’ another user wrote. ‘The old doorbell ditch is out.’

There were even jokes that the Biden impression was lacking, as the former President is known for liking a different treat.

‘He should have been eating ice cream,’ a commenter posted. ‘Opportunity missed.’

The Daily Mail reached out to the Watauga Police Department for comment.

An unusual cloud spotted over Washington, DC, has fueled sensational claims that extraterrestrial craft may be concealed in the skies above the US capital.

A recently shared image showed a huge, isolated formation resembling a UFO suspended over the city.

With its smooth, saucer-like outline, the cloud appeared to remain perfectly still above Washington.

One witness wrote on X on Friday: “Seen this cloud about an hour back. No movement, no shape change. After being stationary for about 20 mins, it just vanished.”

UFO researcher Scott C Waring suggested that similar formations across the city could be “cloaked alien craft attempting to get closer to the human population by appearing as a simple cloud.”

“Where else would aliens want to listen telepathically to the minds of humans than the area where most US gov intelligence workers live,” Waring added.

“Washington DC is an intelligence playground for them.”

Despite the speculation, the formation is a well-known natural phenomenon: a lenticular cloud.

Lenticular clouds are smooth, lens-shaped formations created when moist air moves in waves, typically around hills or mountains.

They develop as stable, moisture-laden air flows over elevated terrain and produces atmospheric waves.

When air rises toward the crest of one of these waves, it cools and its water vapor condenses into a smooth, lens-like cloud. The formation can seem motionless even while air continuously passes through it.

Additional photographs taken Friday appeared to show another enormous UFO-like object moving above the city.

Although it shared the distinctive saucer shape associated with lenticular clouds, the second formation was identified as a pileus cloud.

Pileus clouds form as cap-shaped layers above rapidly developing clouds, when rising air lifts moisture upward and causes it to cool and condense. Like lenticular clouds, they can look remarkably similar to flying saucers.

The formations emerge when a fast-growing cumulus or thunderstorm cloud forces a moist layer of air higher into the atmosphere.

As that air cools, it condenses into a thin, smooth cap that may eventually be overtaken by the cloud rising beneath it.

Despite that meteorological explanation, Waring claimed the clouds seen over Washington DC were camouflaged alien craft.

‘Such things often go unnoticed by most people, however the public is widely changing its opinion about these disk-shaped objects and leaning further towards the idea that they are cloaked alien craft,’ he wrote on UFO Sightings Daily.

He also claimed the supposed ships used artificial intelligence to detect when someone was watching and conceal themselves.

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‘Have you ever looked up at a cloud and thought, “wow, that’s strange,” then it suddenly disappears in a few seconds right before your eyes?’ he continued.

‘It’s the standard built-in reaction of the ship’s AI, causing it to scan if it’s been seen and instantly cloak if it has. 

‘In this way…you have telepathically controlled the ship itself, forcing it to hide even more. Yes, you heard me right, you have controlled an alien ship!’

Waring has shared images of other clouds he believed were clocked UFOs.

In August, he reported on a sighting above a Canadian mountain town.

The image was reportedly captured over Canmore, Alberta on August 2 and shows a glowing, saucer-shaped formation suspended above the landscape.

It was shared on Facebook by Chary Woods, who posted the photo in a group dedicated to clouds.

Many people in the comments were quick to congratulate Woods on capturing an epic cloud hanging in the sky, but some noted that it looked more like a UFO.

At its center is a dark oval that UFO researcher Scott C Waring claims is a classic disk-shaped alien craft concealed within the cloud.

Waring said he increased the contrast on the photograph, allegedly making the object at the center of the formation easier to see.

He claimed the UFO had deliberately created the cloud to hide itself while flying closer to the ground.

The UFO researcher further alleged that alien craft use clouds as cover while secretly scanning the thoughts of people below.

The extraordinary image has divided viewers online, with some declaring it evidence of extraterrestrial visitors while others questioned whether it was created using artificial intelligence.

However, no evidence has emerged proving that the shape is a physical craft or that aliens were involved.

‘This is a UFO cloaked within a cloud that it created,’ Waring wrote on his UFO Sightings Daily website.

‘When you add contrast to the photo, the alien classic disk craft becomes visible at its center.’

Waring claimed extraterrestrials had successfully used the supposed camouflage technique for millions of years.

‘UFOs use clouds to fly closer to the ground in order to scan the thoughts of humans below,’ he added.

‘I think UFO researchers worldwide will agree with me on this.’

The photograph shows a glowing formation stretching horizontally across the sky above mountains, trees, homes and a road.