Trump tells new press secretary she should think about leaving her job

President Trump said on Friday that his new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, might not stay in her position for much longer. He told reporters at the White House that he advised Zacharia to rethink taking the job because of how the press treats her. Mr. Trump mentioned that he spoke with Zacharia about her husband and children, noting they are a wonderful family. He stated he told her she does not need to go through the harsh treatment from the media. The remarks follow exactly one week after Mr. Trump named Zacharia to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August.

Background

Zacharia faced immediate scrutiny over her background and resumé after her appointment. Reports revealed that she graduated from Pepperdine Law School but failed the California bar exam in 2011. Zacharia stated that the president of Pepperdine University once told her she could call herself a lawyer even without passing the bar, though not an attorney. She defended herself by saying she never claimed to be an attorney at law and that much of the discussion involves misinformation.