Trump casts doubt on new press secretary Katie Zacharia’s future

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks to reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House earlier this week (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

US President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that his new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, might not stay in the job much longer.

“I told her, ‘I think you’re better off being happy’,” Mr Trump said.

He also noted that Ms Zacharia had been treated “very unfairly” by the press and said that he had told her she had a great life and family without having to be press secretary.

Mr Trump said he would make a final determination later.

In comments to reporters on the lawn as he left the White House for Georgia, Mr Trump was asked who might replace Ms Zacharia should she leave and said that many people would want the job.

“I told Katie, in my opinion, she was treated very unfairly,” Mr Trump said, adding that Ms Zacharia has been “brutalised by the media”.