Trump says he told Katie Zacharia to ‘reconsider’ her role after disastrous first week: ‘Maybe it’s not for her’

Trump says he told Katie Zacharia to ‘reconsider’ her role after disastrous first week: ‘Maybe it’s not for her’ Trump had announced the embattled spokesperson’s hiring just one week earlier - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Exactly one week after he announced he was hiring conservative TV commentator Katie Zacharia as his next White House press secretary, President Donald Trump said she “should reconsider” whether to stay in the job after a dismal performance at her first briefing was followed by days of questions over whether she’d lied about being licensed to practice law. Speaking to reporters before departing the White House for a rally in Georgia on the way to a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home, the president complained that his novice spokesperson had been treated “very, very badly, very unfairly” by news outlets — including a tough grilling by Fox News host Sean Hannity last night — and said he’d discussed whether Zacharia wanted to remain under such a tough media microscope. “I said to Katie just two minutes ago, I said, Katie, you know, you don't have to do this ... the news has been so nasty to her. I've never seen anything like it. And I said, I said to her honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider. You think about it, but I wouldn't reconsider. She's got a beautiful husband and family,” he said. Asked what he wanted Zacharia to do going forward, he replied: “I just want her to be happy.” And when pressed further on whether he wants her to remain in the job she started on Monday, he told reporters he would speak with her when he returns to Washington and stressed that he likes her “a lot.” “I want her to have a good life. I don't want to have a life like she's led in the last three days. She is being brutalized by the media. I think very unfairly, but she's been brutalized by the media,” he said. “When I get back, we're going to talk because I don't think that Katie could be made to suffer like she's suffering.” More follows... Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments