Trump hints new press secretary could be short-lived hire

US President Donald Trump suggested Friday that his newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, may not remain in the job much longer, telling her she did not have to take on the role and that he would reconsider if he were in her position.

The comments came at the end of Zacharia's first week, during which she faced growing questions about her background and resume.

Zacharia, a conservative commentator who most recently worked for Trump's social media company, was named to the job on Oct 9, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who left in August. She faced reporters for the first time on Tuesday, taking a handful of questions before abruptly ending her turn at the lectern.

At that briefing, Zacharia said her goal is to amplify what the president is doing, and described Trump as his own best spokesperson. She also said she sees her role as no different from the way she advocated for Trump before joining the government.

Before joining the administration, Zacharia served as a senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social. She is an attorney and commentator who briefly served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.

Her arrival comes at a delicate moment for the White House, which is heading into the November midterm elections with its third top spokesperson of the term in question.