Katie Zacharia dismissed as White House press secretary after five days, say reports

US president Donald Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has been dismissed after less than a week in the role, according to reports from the US.The New York Times said Zacharia was dismissed on Friday, citing three people familiar with the matter.Fox News reported she was “transitioning out” of the role.Zacharia, who spent much of her career as a conservative political commentator and in communication roles, was offered the White House press secretary role on October 9th.READ MOREZacharia gave a hesitant performance in her first appearance in the role on Tuesday and faced questions about whether she had misrepresented herself as a lawyer. Earlier on Friday, Trump suggested that Zacharia, might not stay in the job much longer.“I told her, ‘I think you’re better off being happy’,” Trump said.He said Zacharia had been treated “very unfairly” by the press and said that he had told her she had a great life and family without having to be press secretary.Donald Trump and Katie Zacharia on Tuesday. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP 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.“I told Katie, in my opinion, she was treated very unfairly,” Trump said, adding that Zacharia has been “brutalised by the media”. – Agencies/AP