Trump’s new press secretary gushes over him, calling her husband ‘my president’ in shaky first briefing

President Donald Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, opened her first briefing Tuesday with lavish praise for her boss and a promotion of Republican campaign rallies. She took questions from just three reporters, deferred a question about intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and, while discussing her family, accidentally called her husband “my president.”

“So my president, excuse me, my husband — that’s a good one,” Zacharia said, correcting herself before explaining that her husband had brought their four children to Washington.

The stumble punctuated a debut dominated by presidential praise. Zacharia described Trump as “his own best spokesperson,” said he delivers on “every promise,” and declared him “the most family-friendly president we’ve ever had.”

She did make some substantive news. Zacharia said the administration asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece and Donald Trump Jr.’s former fiancée, to resign amid misconduct allegations. But Zacharia offered little explanation beyond praising the departing diplomat.

The briefing drew an unsparing assessment from inside the White House.

On MS NOW’s Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie Ruhle, Ruhle read a statement reporter Jake Traylor obtained from a White House official who spoke candidly on condition of anonymity.

“Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better, fast. Otherwise, she’ll break Scaramucci’s record,” the official said, according to Ruhle.

Anthony Scaramucci was ousted as Trump’s communications director on his 11th day in 2017.

Zacharia, a conservative television commentator who most recently advised Trump Media & Technology Group on communications, succeeds Karoline Leavitt. She started Monday, three weeks before the midterm elections.

Those elections dominated her opening remarks.

“I’m looking forward to working with each of you as well, especially as we are in the middle of the midterm blitz with energy and excitement never seen before in the history of midterms thanks to President Trump,” she said.

She celebrated a “blockbuster rally” in Youngstown, Ohio, previewed additional rallies, and asserted that Americans were “lining up and packing arenas to support President Trump and Republicans.”

That explicit promotion of Republican electoral enthusiasm raises a potential Hatch Act issue. The law prohibits covered federal employees from using their official authority to influence an election.

A 2021 Office of Special Counsel report found that at least 13 senior Trump administration officials, including then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, violated the Hatch Act before the 2020 election.

Tuesday’s question period offered limited opportunities to challenge Zacharia’s presentation. She recognized only reporters from Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.

Zacharia appeared to consult a prepared list of reporters. As journalists called out and raised their hands, she seemed momentarily flustered, as if she began to acknowledge someone before returning to her selections.

Breitbart’s reporter went first, congratulated her, and asked about access for “new media.” He followed up on Trump’s campaign travel.

“Absolutely. You can expect more of the midterm blitz,” she replied.

Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked whether her job was to discuss White House matters or help Republicans in the elections.

“I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” she said, describing her goal of bringing that work “into an official capacity.”

Asked next whether the United States had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, she replied: “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

The Daily Mail’s question about Guilfoyle produced the briefing’s principal announcement.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”

The announcement followed a Wall Street Journal report that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from Trump donor Eric Deters to cover an American Express bill before her Senate confirmation hearing. The newspaper reported that she offered access to administration officials while Deters sought help with tax and legal matters. Deters said he did not make the requested payment.

Guilfoyle’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, disputed the messages’ authenticity and said she was owed money for travel and speaking engagements before her nomination. Deters disputed owing her a balance.

The Daily Mail then asked about Zacharia’s family, prompting the “my president” slip. After answering, she ended the briefing, citing Trump’s departure for Alaska and directing further questions to him.

“He will answer those questions out in Marine One,” she said.

Watch Katie Zacharia’s first White House press briefing performance below.

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