US under Trump: Report: Trump wants to turn White House press room into a public bathroom

Katie Zacharia is set to vacate her position as White House press secretary, according to senior government officials speaking to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. She had assumed the role just five days prior. A high-ranking administration official confirmed she would leave the post but declined to provide a specific timeline for her departure. It remained unclear who would succeed her immediately following the announcement. President Donald Trump addressed reporters outside the White House shortly before confirming the change. He stated that he had advised Zacharia to reconsider staying in the job. "I told her, 'Honestly, if I were you, I would think about it again,'" the president recounted. "Think about it, but I would think about it again." While Trump claimed he left the final decision to her, multiple American media outlets reported that he had effectively fired her. During the same remarks, the president expressed doubt regarding her suitability for the demanding role. "Maybe this is not for her," he admitted. He noted that she had been treated poorly and unfairly by the media during her brief tenure. Trump stated his primary concern was her happiness, noting she had suffered significantly in recent days. He pledged to support whatever decision she made and indicated he intended to speak with her soon. Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt, who departed the position at the end of August. Trump publicly announced the personnel change on Sunday. Zacharia officially began work on Monday, which coincided with the Columbus Day holiday in the United States. On Tuesday, she held her first press conference. The briefing ended abruptly after only a few questions. Observers recalled the session primarily for several verbal gaffes and its unusually short duration. When initially announcing the appointment, Trump praised Zacharia extensively. "I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our country as the new White House press secretary," he wrote. However, the hiring process itself appeared rushed. In an interview with the right-leaning broadcaster Real America's Voice, Zacharia described receiving a phone call from Trump. She flew to Washington on Thursday to meet him on Friday. She accepted the offer that same day. She returned to California on Saturday to pack her luggage before flying back to the capital on Sunday. "He asked me to be in the office on Monday, and I showed up on Monday," she explained. Questions regarding her professional qualifications sparked intense debate and placed significant pressure on her. Reports indicated that despite graduating from a law school, she had repeatedly used attorney titles without having passed the bar exam required for such licensure. She subsequently acknowledged these claims. Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the vacant press secretary role, speculation arose regarding potential replacements. At a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, rapper Nicki Minaj stood beside the president. Trump, who was campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of congressional elections scheduled for next week, diverted his speech to comment on Minaj’s appearance. "By the way, I saw one hell of a beautiful butt earlier... Nicki Minaj. You can barely miss it," he shouted from the stage. He urged the audience to applaud as Minaj stood up. "Stand up. You can barely miss it," he continued. He added that he hoped she was not offended, stating, "We love Nicki. She has been with us for a long time." White House Communications Director Steven Cheung amplified the moment by posting a video on social media showing himself interacting with Minaj aboard Air Force One. He captioned the clip: "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have found the new White House Press Secretary!" Trump advisor Alex Bruesewitz shared Cheung’s post and engaged with Minaj’s fanbase, known as Barbz, asking for their opinion on the idea. The official White House account responded to Cheung’s message with two eye emojis. Minaj replied with an image of the American flag and a smiling face sweating emoji. Polls indicate that Republicans are likely to lose seats in the upcoming November 3 elections. Sixty-one percent of voters currently disapprove of the president’s performance, while thirty-eight percent approve. A majority of the electorate prefers a Democratic-controlled Congress over a Republican one. Such a shift would allow Democrats to obstruct the president’s legislative agenda and block key bills. Zacharia’s tenure represents the shortest service period for any White House press secretary. Her sole media briefing lasted approximately fifteen minutes. The rapid turnover highlights the instability within the administration’s communication team. No formal announcement regarding a permanent replacement has been issued beyond the speculative comments involving Minaj. The administration has not clarified whether Zacharia’s departure is voluntary or forced, though media reports lean toward termination. The search for a successor appears to be ongoing amidst heightened political tension.