By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press By — Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-casts-doubt-on-press-secretary-katie-zacharias-future Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump casts doubt on press secretary Katie Zacharia's future Politics Oct 16, 2026 1:49 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signaled Friday that his embattled new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, may be on her way out — a mere week after he picked her for the post. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn as he left for a rally in Georgia, Trump said he'd spoken to Zacharia and that he felt she didn't deserve what he called negative media coverage. READ MORE: Katie Zacharia's debut shows the pitfalls and possibilities of White House press secretary's role Recounting what was said in that conversation, the president added, "I told her, 'I think you're better off being happy,'" Trump said. "We're talking about — I want her to have a good life. I don't want her to have a life like she's led the last three days," Trump said. He added, "I said, Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this.'" The president said he'd make a final determination later perhaps after his campaign travel, adding, "When I get back we're gonna talk." He also said, "I told Katie, in my opinion, she was treated very unfairly," Trump said, noting that Zacharia has been "brutalized by the media." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press By — Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signaled Friday that his embattled new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, may be on her way out — a mere week after he picked her for the post. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn as he left for a rally in Georgia, Trump said he'd spoken to Zacharia and that he felt she didn't deserve what he called negative media coverage. READ MORE: Katie Zacharia's debut shows the pitfalls and possibilities of White House press secretary's role Recounting what was said in that conversation, the president added, "I told her, 'I think you're better off being happy,'" Trump said. "We're talking about — I want her to have a good life. I don't want her to have a life like she's led the last three days," Trump said. He added, "I said, Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this.'" The president said he'd make a final determination later perhaps after his campaign travel, adding, "When I get back we're gonna talk." He also said, "I told Katie, in my opinion, she was treated very unfairly," Trump said, noting that Zacharia has been "brutalized by the media." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now