Trump tells Katie Zacharia to reconsider White House post after rocky debut
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President Donald Trump said new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia should rethink her role after a widely criticized first briefing, as he brushed off questions about whether she would keep the job.
President Donald Trump told reporters he had advised new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to "reconsider" her position, saying she could step down if she wished. The remark came after Zacharia’s first briefing drew criticism and renewed questions about whether she was prepared for the job, including scrutiny of her legal background.
Trump made the comments outside the White House before heading to Georgia for a rally meant to shore up Republican chances ahead of the midterm elections, which are 18 days away. He said Zacharia had been treated "very rough" by the media and described her as a "nice person," even as her debut in the role was being openly questioned.
"She's been treated, I would say, pretty nastily," Trump said, adding that even Fox News host Sean Hannity had been "a little bit tough" on her during a recent interview.
When asked whether he would retain her, Trump replied, "I'm going to let her make that decision," signaling that he would not force her to stay in the post.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the president's remarks.