Trump told new press secretary to ‘reconsider’ role

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia resigned less than a week into her role following a series of blunders that overshadowed her boss, President Donald Trump. Earlier, Trump had expressed his desire for her to step down amid criticism over her perceived pretense of being a lawyer and her one press briefing, which was widely mocked.

The White House official confirmed the resignation after Fox News reported on Zacharia's transition out of the position. Zacharia's tenure began on May 3, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who had previously brought in more supportive media outlets while aggressively attacking critical media. Zacharia's initial press briefing lasted under 15 minutes, during which she provided a slow account of President Trump's achievements and only responded to three questions from journalists.

Her credibility further suffered when it was revealed that she had falsely claimed to be a lawyer, although she holds a law degree but failed the bar exam. Zacharia attributed her misgivings about pursuing a legal career to being "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband. Despite her attempts to regain trust in subsequent interviews, her dismissal was widely perceived as a distraction for Trump as he campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which polls suggest he is likely to lose.

Trump's approval ratings have also plunged as Americans express dissatisfaction with the war in Iran, inflation, and perceptions of corruption.