Trump leaves Katie Zacharia’s White House future in her own hands after media pile-on
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President Donald Trump said Katie Zacharia should reconsider her White House press secretary role, while defending her from harsh media attacks after her first briefing.
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 comment came as Zacharia was facing a wave of criticism over her first briefing and questions about her legal background.
Trump made the remarks outside the White House before traveling to Georgia for a rally aimed at boosting Republican prospects 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," underscoring his view that the press had gone too far.
"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," making clear he would not force her to stay in the role.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the president's remarks.