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White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was pushed out Friday after less than a week in the position following a series of controversies involving her professional credentials, public appearances and remarks about China, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"Can confirm," a White House official told AFP after Fox News reported that Zacharia, 41, was "transitioning out" of the administration.
Her departure came after President Donald Trump publicly suggested that she reconsider her position amid mounting criticism over claims that she was a lawyer and her widely mocked debut White House press briefing.
"I said, 'Katie, is this for you?'" Trump told reporters. "I said, 'Katie, you don't have to do this'...I said to her, 'Honestly if I were you I'd reconsider.'"
Zacharia's brief tenure was even shorter than that of Anthony Scaramucci, the financier who served just 11 days as White House communications director during Trump's first administration.
"Records are made to be broken," Scaramucci wrote on X, adding: "But I take no pleasure in other people's pain."
Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who became known for her confrontational approach toward critical media outlets and efforts to expand access for news organizations supportive of Trump.
Zacharia faced criticism following her first White House press briefing Tuesday, which lasted less than 15 minutes.
She began with a slow reading of what she described as Trump's numerous accomplishments before taking only three questions from reporters.
Her performance quickly attracted criticism and ridicule, adding to concerns about her ability to handle one of the administration's most visible public-facing roles.
The controversy deepened when questions emerged about her previous claims to be a lawyer.
Zacharia had described herself as a lawyer during television appearances and on social media. She had also identified herself as general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit organization.
Although she earned a law degree from a California university, Zacharia acknowledged Thursday that she had failed the bar exam, which is required to obtain a license to practice law.
She attempted to address the controversy through several interviews with media outlets supportive of Trump.
During an appearance on Fox News, host Sean Hannity asked whether she had ever retaken the bar exam.
"I did not," Zacharia replied.
"It was never my intent to go into the practice of law," she added.
In a separate interview Thursday with Real America's Voice, Zacharia said she had registered to take the exam but became "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband.
She maintained that "many people in the field" had assured her she could "label myself a lawyer" because she held a law degree.
During an appearance on "Fox and Friends" on Friday, Zacharia was asked whether she still had Trump's confidence.
"I hope to be able to build the trust and confidence of everyone around me," she responded, without directly answering the question.
Zacharia also drew criticism over comments about China during a Thursday interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec.
Recalling perceptions in 2016 that China was on course to surpass the United States, she questioned the country's development based on her personal experiences.
"I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, 'How is China the next country on the horizon? They don't even have proper toilets,'" she said.
The remarks came shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington for talks with Trump.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded Friday by suggesting Zacharia should "visit China more often."
Zacharia's departure comes as Trump, 80, campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections.
The president faces declining approval ratings amid public dissatisfaction with the U.S. war against Iran, inflation and perceptions of corruption, according to AFP.
The White House personnel controversy adds another challenge for the administration as Trump seeks to strengthen Republican support ahead of the elections.
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