{
  "id": 15099807,
  "title": "New White House press secretary 'let go' from role, official says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/new-white-house-press-secretary-let-go-from-role-official-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T02:42:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261017/new-white-house-press-secretary-let-go-from-role-official-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was dismissed from her position, according to a White House official on Friday. The move came after President Donald Trump expressed that he suggested she reconsider taking the job following public scrutiny. Trump informed reporters while leaving the White House, stating, \"I told her: I think you're better off being happy, and I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff. There's nothing easy about this stuff.\" He added, \"I said to her honestly, If I were you, I'd reconsider... think about it. But I would reconsider.\"\n\nFox News, citing a White House source, reported later that Zacharia was transitioning out of the press secretary role. She began the position on Monday and made her first briefing at the White House on Tuesday. Zacharia claimed she was offered the job to replace Karoline Leavitt on Friday after being approached about it on Wednesday. Trump announced her appointment, describing her as an attorney from California's Pepperdine University law school. Over the past week, questions arose about whether Zacharia, an attorney, could endure the challenges of the role.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was \"let go\" from the role, a White House official said on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had told her to reconsider the job following public scrutiny. \"I told her: 'I think you're better off being happy, and I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff.' There's nothing easy about this stuff,\" Trump told reporters…",
  "key_points": [
    "White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia dismissed from role.",
    "President Trump suggested she reconsider job due to public scrutiny.",
    "Zacharia transitioned out of press secretary role later that day."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The abrupt dismissal of a press secretary after only a few days highlights the intense public scrutiny and personal toll inherent in managing communications for the current administration.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Painting Eisenhower Building would diminish historic character of White House complex, report says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/painting-eisenhower-building-would-diminish-historic-character-of",
        "published": "2026-10-16T23:07:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Zacharia speaks out after White House press secretary exit: 'It was an honor'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/zacharia-speaks-out-after-white-house-press-secretary-exit-it-was-an",
        "published": "2026-10-17T02:29:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "New White House press secretary 'let go' from role, official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/new-white-house-press-secretary-let-go-from-role-official-says-15102957",
        "published": "2026-10-17T03:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}