Arabic version: كاتي زاكاريا تترك منصب المتحدثة باسم البيت الأبيض

According to BBC News, Katie Zacharia is leaving the White House press secretary role just five days after joining the administration. The White House confirmed that she would be “transitioning” out of her current job after President Donald Trump discussed the matter with reporters on Friday.

Trump said he had told Zacharia: “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider. Katie, do you need this? I don’t think you need this.” He later said that the press secretary job was “not for her”. Zacharia’s departure followed a 14-minute press conference on Tuesday, subsequent media appearances and questions about whether she had mischaracterised her legal credentials during her career.

Zacharia, a political strategist who had frequently appeared on conservative outlets Newsmax and Fox News before her appointment, faced the role weeks before midterm congressional elections that polls suggest could be difficult for Trump and the Republican Party. Republican candidates across the US are seeking to retain their seats, with some distancing themselves from the president and his policies.

The White House is also dealing with controversies including corruption allegations that led to the resignation of US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, as well as the reversal of plans to publicly air a military execution in December after bipartisan backlash. Trump told Fox News on Friday that he was in “no rush” to select a replacement. He has often made major announcements himself and had previously been described by Zacharia as his “own best press secretary”.