Washington, Oct. 17 -- Katie Zacharia, US President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, has been fired less than a week into the job, The New York Times reported on Friday, October 16, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The decision had not been formally announced.

Trump, however, told reporters on Friday that he had urged her to rethink the role.

"Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider," he said, recalling his conversation with her. He said he also asked her, "Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this."

Trump said she could still work for him "in some form, but maybe a more pleasant form."

Trump named Zacharia to the post on October 9. She was a communications adviser for his media company and repl...