Trump’s press secretary quits days after controversial White House debut

US President Donald Trump’s newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has left the White House role less than a week after taking office, following controversy over her claims of being a lawyer and a poorly received debut press briefing.

A White House official confirmed her departure to AFP on Friday after Fox News reported that she was “transitioning out” of the position.

Zacharia, 41, had taken over from Karoline Leavitt but came under scrutiny after her first press briefing on Tuesday lasted less than 15 minutes and featured only three questions from journalists.

Her position became increasingly uncertain after reports emerged that she had described herself as a lawyer despite failing to pass the bar examination required to practise law in the United States.

Trump had earlier suggested that she reconsider the role, telling reporters that he had advised her that she did not have to continue.

“I said to her, ‘Honestly if I were you I’d reconsider,’” the President said.

Zacharia holds a law degree from a California university but acknowledged on Thursday that she had failed the bar examination. She also said she had never intended to practise law.

During interviews with conservative media outlets, she explained that she had been distracted by plans to move to China with her husband when she registered for the examination.

She also said people in her field had assured her that she could describe herself as a lawyer because she held a law degree.

The controversy intensified after Zacharia made disparaging remarks about China during an interview with right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec.

Recalling her experience in China in 2016, she questioned the country’s development prospects and said it did not have “proper toilets.”

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, responded on Friday by suggesting that Zacharia should visit the country more often.

Her departure comes as Trump faces political pressure over the war against Iran, inflation and public perceptions of corruption, with congressional midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

Zacharia’s brief tenure also drew comparisons with that of Anthony Scaramucci, who served as White House communications director for 11 days during Trump’s first term and whose short stay became widely mocked online.

Scaramucci reacted to the news on X, writing, “Records are made to be broken,” while adding that he took no pleasure in other people’s pain.