Katie Zacharia will be leaving her role as White House press secretary, the BBC has confirmed. Her exit follows a turbulent week that began with a public debut on Tuesday that drew significant media criticism.
President Donald Trump hinted at her departure on Friday, stating he had told her she did not have to continue if she did not want to. He also suggested she had been treated "pretty nastily" by the media.
Zacharia's initial press briefing lasted 14 minutes and saw her answer only a few questions. She later faced scrutiny over her legal credentials, admitting on Thursday that she had not passed the bar exam, despite previously stating she had practised international transaction law in China with appropriate credentials.
Her early exit marks the quickest departure from a White House press team under President Trump, surpassing Anthony Scaramucci's 10-day tenure as communications director.