Trump Questions Future of New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia
President Trump said he told Katie Zacharia she doesn't have to stay in the role, leaving the decision up to her after her first briefing drew scrutiny.
At a glance
- Trump said he spoke with press secretary Katie Zacharia before a Georgia rally and told her she doesn't have to do the job.
- Zacharia's first official day was Monday; her first briefing was Tuesday morning.
- She faced scrutiny over a halting opening statement read from notes, calling on only three reporters, and her legal credentials.
President Donald Trump on Friday cast doubt on the future of his new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, telling reporters he had just spoken with her before departing for a campaign rally in Georgia.
"I just spoke to her about it. I said, 'Katie, is this for you?'" Trump said. He added that she had "been treated, I would say, pretty nastily" and told her, "Katie, you know, you don't have to do this if you don't want." Trump said he was leaving the decision up to her.
Zacharia's first official day on the job was Monday, and her first briefing was Tuesday morning. During that briefing, she faced scrutiny over her performance: she delivered a lengthy and halting opening statement read from notes and called on only three reporters. She also faced questions about her legal credentials.
The president's comments came as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Georgia. He did not say whether Zacharia would remain in the position or when a decision might be made.
Background
Zacharia was named press secretary in the weeks before her first day. Her brief tenure has already drawn attention from reporters and observers, who noted the unusual nature of her opening statement and the limited number of questions she took.
The White House has not issued a formal statement on her status. Trump's remarks suggest he is open to her departure but has not asked her to leave.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- What did Trump say about Katie Zacharia's future?
- Trump said he asked her, 'Katie, is this for you?' and told her she doesn't have to do the job if she doesn't want to, leaving the decision up to her.
- When did Katie Zacharia start as press secretary?
- Her first official day on the job was Monday, and her first briefing was Tuesday morning.
- Why has Katie Zacharia faced scrutiny?
- She faced scrutiny over her performance during her first briefing—a lengthy, halting opening statement read from notes and only three reporters called on—and her legal credentials.
