Katie Zacharia Delivers Powerful Inaugural Briefing as the 37th White House Press Secretary

Katie Zacharia led her first White House press briefing as press secretary on Oct. 13. She talked about drug prices, access for newer media outlets and President Trump’s planned midterm travel. The White House says Trump expects to visit Georgia, Kentucky and Florida.

Zacharia said the White House plans to keep its “New Media Seat,” which gives nontraditional outlets a place in the briefing room. She said it could expand when possible. She offered no timetable or rules for choosing which outlets get access.

She also repeated Trump’s claim that he is the first modern president to bring down prescription drug prices. The briefing included no figures or comparison period to show how prices changed. That leaves the size of the claimed reduction unclear.

Zacharia spoke about raising four children while taking on a demanding job. She said the president’s confidence in her helped make the role possible. It was a personal detail alongside her comments on the administration’s agenda.

Her first briefing set out a few themes for the months ahead: affordability, media access and campaign travel. Whether the New Media Seat grows will depend on how the White House handles invitations and space. Drug-price claims will also be easier to judge when the administration publishes figures that can be compared over time.