What went wrong with Trump's White House press secretary who stepped down after just five days in office?

Even in the best of times, being a White House press secretary is not an easy job.

But now, the situation is obviously not the best.

There are only a few weeks left before the U.S. congressional midterm elections, and polls show that the election may be unfavorable to President Trump and his Republican Party. At this critical moment, Katie Zacharia took over as the White House Press Secretary and had to face a complex political situation as soon as she took office.

She resigned after just five days. Previously, she held a disastrous press conference that lasted only 14 minutes. She then stuttered in many media interviews, and the outside world questioned whether she had misrepresented her legal qualifications over the years.

By Friday, she was finally replaced. Trump himself revealed the news in a rather roundabout way in front of a crowd of reporters at the White House, recounting a conversation he had with Zakaria earlier that day.

Trump said he told Zakaria: "Honestly, if I were you, I would reconsider (whether to continue). Katie, do you need this job? I don't think you do."

He later added that the job of press secretary "may not be suitable for her."

If anyone was still in doubt, the White House quickly confirmed to the BBC that Zakaria would be "transitioning" out of his current position.

Trump may wonder whether Zakaria "needs" this press secretary job, but any president, including Trump, can best understand the importance of a competent press secretary in times of crisis.

While the White House is not necessarily facing an imminent crisis right now, adversity is clearly mounting.

Republican candidates across the country are trying to keep their seats in the upcoming elections. Some are trying to distance themselves from the president and his policies, creating new pressure and fissures in a party that has long been largely united behind Trump.

At the same time, the White House has also been plagued by a series of controversies, including corruption allegations that forced the resignation of the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and plans to publicly broadcast a military execution in December that were suddenly withdrawn after widespread bipartisan opposition.

A skilled press secretary may be able to help the White House avoid these political landmines while continuing to convey the message the White House wants to promote at a time when media attention is rapidly heating up.

Caroline Leavitt served as Trump's press secretary from the beginning of Trump's second presidential term until August this year, when she resigned a few months after giving birth to her second child. She's quite adept at standing up at the podium in the White House briefing room and defending the administration while avoiding missteps and maintaining good working relationships with reporters.

Her performance set the bar high compared to the inexperienced Zachary Ding. Not only did Zakaria fail to reach that level, she didn't even come close, even though she never really got much time to prove herself.

She failed surprisingly quickly, setting the record for the shortest tenure as a White House press secretary in modern times.

Zakaria's hesitant performance at a press conference on Tuesday, coupled with questions about her legal background, essentially sealed her fate.

Several subsequent appearances in front of the media, including a less-than-friendly interview with conservative commentator Sean Hannity on Thursday, failed to rectify the situation. Trump said he was watching the visit.

During his tenure as president, Trump has always acted as his press secretary to a certain extent. Whether in the Oval Office, the White House lawn, or the airport tarmac, wherever he is, he may personally announce major news or even change policies.

Zakaria himself mentioned this phenomenon before he was selected to join the White House. She posted on X: "President Trump doesn't need a spokesperson. He is the best press secretary himself."

Now, he will have to.

However, Trump’s tendency to speak off the cuff has made the press secretary’s job particularly difficult during his two terms as president.

His press secretary sometimes made public statements only to be overturned by the president's subsequent remarks. Other times, they are not even informed of important decisions at all.

And those who can perform their duties effectively not only know how to stand firm in times of crisis, but also can improve the relationship between the White House and the media, provide context and context to reporters who are asking endless questions, and help calm brewing controversies.