Washington, October 17 (TNA) President Donald Trump has dismissed his newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, after only five days in the role, making her tenure the shortest in the history of the White House press secretary’s office, officials said.
The White House said Zacharia would transition to another role after facing intense scrutiny over her performance and qualifications. Reports said Trump spoke with her on Friday and questioned whether the high-pressure position was the right fit for her.
Trump later told reporters that he had advised Zacharia to reconsider continuing as press secretary. He said she had faced considerable hostility from the media and suggested that she did not have to remain in the role if she did not want to.
Zacharia’s departure followed a turbulent week that included a brief and heavily criticised press conference, as well as a series of media interviews in which she struggled to answer questions, according to reports. Her legal credentials also came under scrutiny after Trump referred to her as an attorney, although reports raised questions about whether she had passed a bar examination. The controversy added to pressure on the White House to reassess her appointment.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Zacharia would continue supporting Trump while transitioning to a new position. The administration has not immediately announced who will take over as interim press secretary.
Zacharia’s five-day tenure was even shorter than that of Anthony Scaramucci, who served as White House communications director for less than 11 days in 2017. Scaramucci’s brief stint became a benchmark for short-lived White House appointments.
The abrupt change comes as the Trump administration prepares for a politically demanding period ahead of the US midterm elections. The next press secretary will be expected to manage increasingly intense media scrutiny and communicate the administration’s policies effectively.