Breaking: White House press secretary Katie Zacharia leaves after just days in role

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announced her departure from her role just five days after taking it, according to administration sources cited by news agencies. President Donald Trump had reportedly encouraged her to reconsider her position, telling reporters while leaving the White House, "I said to her honestly, If I were you, I d reconsider."

Zacharia's tenure began with a rocky start, as her inaugural press room briefing lasted less than 15 minutes and involved a slow reading of Trump's accomplishments followed by only three questions from journalists. The situation worsened when it was revealed that she had falsely claimed to be a lawyer. Zacharia's predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, had played a significant role in reshaping White House coverage by working with more amenable outlets and aggressively countering critical media.