The White House has a new voice at the podium. Katie Zacharia, President Donald Trump’s newly appointed press secretary, held her first briefing on Tuesday. It ended in under 15 minutes and included questions from just three reporters, all from conservative outlets.
A Briefing Heavy on Prepared Remarks
Roughly half of the session was an opening statement in which Zacharia listed what she described as the president’s accomplishments. She went on to address economic policy and border security. Her debut ended a weekslong stretch in which the briefing room had no permanent press secretary. She takes over from Karoline Leavitt, who left the administration in August.
Zacharia is an attorney and a conservative television commentator. She previously served as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that runs Truth Social. She told reporters that her role inside the administration would look much like the advocacy she did for Trump before joining it.
Friendly Questions and a Defended Seat
The first question went to Breitbart News. The outlet sits in the briefing room through a “new media” rotation that was created under Leavitt to bring more outlets into briefings and the press pool. Zacharia said the White House intends to keep that seat and will widen it where it can.
Trump’s first term saw four people hold the press secretary job: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.
Questions About Her Law License
Zacharia’s arrival has also drawn scrutiny over her credentials. When reporters asked where and when she passed the bar exam, she did not give a direct answer. The Guardian reported that a search of the State Bar of California turned up no listing for her under her current name or her maiden name, Black. As she left the White House to travel with Trump, she again passed on the chance to say whether she is licensed to practice law anywhere in the United States. She said only that she had moved to China.
Straight Into the Campaign Trail
Zacharia will not have much time to settle in. She is set to travel with the president for several campaign rallies in Alaska, Arizona and Montana. Trump is working to energize Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress. Some voters in battleground states are already casting ballots.
A Shake-Up Around the Administration
Her debut came on the same day that Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as US ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle denied allegations of misconduct. The Wall Street Journal had reported on questionable actions she took before landing the post. The Associated Press, citing a senior US official, reported that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were deeply angered by her reported conduct.
Zacharia’s short first appearance suggests the administration intends to keep tight control over its public messaging as the midterms approach. How she handles tougher questions from a broader range of reporters, and whether the questions about her legal background fade, will likely shape how her tenure is judged.
Source: PBS NewsHour
