Katie Zacharia Walks Away From Mainstream Press In First Briefing
New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia held a highly restricted briefing Tuesday that lasted less than 15 minutes and called on only three reporters. This move marks a sharp departure from the norm, as the new press secretary spent over half that time reading prepared remarks before taking questions. NBC News reported that the only outlets allowed to ask questions were Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
Zacharia is an attorney and television commentator who previously served as a senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group. Karoline Leavitt, who held the position of first press secretary in Trump's second administration for 19 months until departing on August 27, is succeeded by her. Fox News noted that President Trump praised Zacharia, stating she would do a fantastic job and has been with him in spirit from the beginning.
Zacharia made her debut by explicitly limiting media access to conservative voices, breaking with her predecessor's tradition of calling on more than 15 reporters per session. Daily Signal reported that she opened the 14-minute session by touting Trump's midterm campaign tour, manufacturing job gains, and border security measures. Regarding whether the U.S. ceased intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Zacharia told Fox News she would "have to get back to you on that".
She referenced Leavitt's decision to include a seat for non-traditional media, noting that Breitbart held that seat on Tuesday. Her goal is clear: to communicate in complete tandem with the president, whom she calls his own best spokesperson. She told reporters she hopes to "only build on, only amplify, and only multiply, to the extent possible, all of the wins" that Trump is making for Americans.
In a major announcement during the briefing, Zacharia revealed that the administration has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, to resign. Daily Signal cited The Wall Street Journal reports about text messages showing a Greek tycoon paid for Guilfoyle's luxury trips. Zacharia addressed the situation directly, stating, "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign." The team considers her a wonderful asset and extends best wishes for her future.
This decision comes after the administration received information about misconduct allegations surrounding the ambassador. The president's team is moving quickly to address these issues while maintaining focus on their policy agenda. The briefing room is now a place for direct messages rather than extended back-and-forth debates with the press corps.
Zacharia also shared her personal approach to balancing this high-pressure role with her life as a mother of four children between the ages of 6 and 12. She told reporters that her children are her priority and that she loves being with them. Daily Signal reported her statement: "The idea of not spending evenings with my kids is completely unacceptable".
She plans to take the experience she gained as a conservative commentator and "take that into an official capacity" within the White House. Her message to the American people focuses on solutions for rising costs, noting that people are frustrated with gas and grocery prices. "President Trump has heard people have been frustrated with the gas prices," Zacharia said. He consistently provides solutions, as he always does.
As the midterm blitz continues, Zacharia is setting a new tone for how the White House communicates with the public. Her first day proved that the administration values control over its message and the well-being of its own family above traditional press expectations. This shift ensures that the president's wins reach the American people without the filter of hostile questioning. In an X post, Zacharia wrote: "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime".