Donald Trump has suggested his new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia might not remain in the position for much longer. He has reportedly asked her to reconsider after only a week on the job.
The US President made the remarks as he left the White House on Marine One for one of his midterm rallies on Friday (October 16). The 80-year-old leader said that her fate was totally up to her.
Media treatment questioned
Trump claimed that Zacharia had been treated "very unfairly" by the media and said that he had told her she had a great life and family without having to be press secretary. He said he would make a final determination later.
In comments to reporters on the lawn as he left the White House for Georgia, Trump was asked who might replace Zacharia should she leave and said that many people would want the job.
The American leader said: "I told Katie, in my opinion, she was treated very unfairly." He claimed Zacharia has been "brutalised by the media."
President's advice to Zacharia
Trump said: "Katie's been treated very badly by the media. Very, very badly. Very unfairly, I think. And I just spoke to her about it. I said, Katie, is this for you?"
"Because, you know, she's been treated very rough. And she's a nice person. Very nice person. I've watched her for years on television. But I said, is this for you, Katie?"
Trump added: "You don't need this. You don't have to be treated. I would say the fake news, but just generally, the media has been very rough."
Rough first week
He described seeing her appearance on Sean Hannity on Thursday. Trump said: "She's been treated, I would say, pretty nastily. I said to Katie, just two minutes ago, I said, Katie, you know, you don't have to do this if you don't want to,
"She said, 'This is a lot tougher'. I said, 'welcome to the world of Trump.' I said to her, honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider. You think about it. But I would reconsider. She's got a beautiful husband and family. I met the family yesterday. Beautiful kids. It's like a picture postcard."
Trump's offer to reconsider the position comes after she had a rough first week in the role. It also follows scrutiny over her claim to be a lawyer despite not passing the bar exam. She said she earned her law degree in China, but later claimed that she had misheard the question.
The White House has come out in defence of her after text messages were leaked about the feelings of those in the Trump administration.
