White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving her position after just five days on the job, following a series of difficult media appearances and questions about her legal credentials.

A White House official confirmed to the Daily Caller on Friday, October 16, that Zacharia was “transitioning out” of the position.

The announcement came shortly after President Donald Trump publicly encouraged Zacharia to reconsider her role. He defended her against criticism from the media and questioned whether the demanding position was right for her.

“Katie’s been treated very badly by the media,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House for a rally in Georgia.

“And I just spoke to her about it. I said, ‘Katie, is this for you?’ Because, you know, she’s been treated very rough. And she’s a nice person,” he added.

Zacharia began her role on Monday, October 12, after Trump personally selected her to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

According to the New York Post, Trump had offered Zacharia the position just days earlier, without involving White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Her first and only White House press briefing took place on Tuesday. The briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she answered questions from just three news outlets.

Zacharia announced during the briefing that Trump had asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign.

However, questions about Zacharia’s professional background soon drew attention.

Zacharia faced scrutiny after reports emerged that she had failed the California bar examination despite previously describing herself as an attorney.

During a Thursday interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Zacharia was questioned about her legal credentials. She acknowledged that she had not passed the bar exam.

The issue resurfaced during a Friday appearance on Fox & Friends, where hosts also pressed her about her background.

Trump defended Zacharia following the interviews, saying Hannity and the morning show’s hosts had been too tough on her.

“She’s been treated, I would say, pretty nastily,” Trump said.

The president also revealed that Zacharia had acknowledged the challenges of the position during their private conversation.

“She said, ‘This is a lot tougher.’ I said, ‘Welcome to the world of Trump,'” he recalled.

Despite her departure, Trump indicated that he wanted Zacharia to remain in his administration in another capacity.

A senior administration official told the New York Post that Zacharia would transition into a different role, although details had not yet been announced.

According to Breitbart News, a source familiar with the situation said Trump remained a strong supporter of Zacharia.

The source also said Zacharia and her family were scheduled to have dinner with Vice President JD Vance and his family on Friday evening.

Zacharia’s departure marks the shortest tenure of a Trump White House aide, surpassing the previous record held by Anthony Scaramucci. The former White House communications director lasted 11 days in 2017 before being dismissed.

Zacharia succeeded Leavitt, who stepped down in August to spend more time with her two young children.

The White House has not announced who will replace Zacharia as press secretary.