White House press secretary Katie Zacharia leaves the position amid criticism that she had pretended to be a lawyer and over her sole, much-mocked press briefing. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was pushed out Friday after less than a week in the high-profile job, following a series of blunders that added to distractions for her embattled boss president Donald Trump.

"Can confirm," a White House official told AFP, after Fox News reported that Zacharia, 41, was "transitioning out".

The writing was on the wall earlier when Trump made clear he was ready to see his newly minted spokeswoman go amid criticism that she had pretended to be a lawyer and over her one, much-mocked press briefing.