Katie Zacharia out as White House press secretary after less than a week

The story

Katie Zacharia is leaving her job as White House press secretary after less than a week in the role, the White House said on Friday. Officials described her as "transitioning out," and one senior official said she would move into a new role that will be announced later.

Zacharia started on Monday and held her first briefing on Tuesday. President Trump had named her to the post the previous Friday, bringing her in from conservative media to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the job at the end of August.

Her first week brought intense media attention, including questions about her credentials. Earlier on Friday, Trump told reporters he had advised her to think again about staying. "Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider," he said he told her, adding that he would leave the decision up to her.

The sudden exit leaves one of the most visible jobs in the administration empty less than three weeks before the midterm elections. Trump has complained publicly that his administration and party are being hurt by bad public relations.

Zacharia was the second press secretary of Trump's second term and the sixth across his two terms in office.