Consumer prices and Iran war loom over midterm elections
Katie Zacharia led her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, her second day as President Donald Trump’s press secretary. She is the sixth person to hold the post in his administration.
Zacharia succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August and subsequently agreed to join Fox News as an on-air host beginning next month. The transition placed Zacharia at the briefing-room podium three weeks before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
A former conservative political commentator, Zacharia previously served as a communications adviser for Truth Social, the president’s social media company, and as a Fox News commentator. She also held a brief stint as spokesperson for former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Zacharia has described herself as an attorney. United Press International reported there is no public evidence that she has been licensed to practice law.
Five press secretaries preceded her in the role under Trump: Sean Spicer, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kayleigh McEnany, Stephanie Grisham and Leavitt.
Her first briefing came three weeks before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Trump and the Republican Party seek to maintain a majority in Congress, with high consumer prices and the Iran war among the issues looming over the incoming elections.