Katie Zacharia, the incoming White House press secretary, said she will get to work immediately when she takes over the briefing room podium on Monday, using her first weekend in the role to defend President Donald Trump's newly announced diesel agreement with Russia as a step she says will bring down both gas and grocery prices for Americans.
Speaking on «Fox & Friends Weekend» on Saturday, Zacharia described the president's approach to inflation as «multifaceted» and said the administration is responding to voter frustration that has been building for months. «President Trump has heard people have been frustrated with the gas prices. People are frustrated with the increasing grocery prices. And he is delivering what he always does, which are solutions,» she said.
The diesel deal, announced by Trump on Friday, calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to «immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.» Zacharia framed the arrangement as consistent with Trump's America-first posture. «He is putting [American interests] first, American citizens first with this deal. And we will have cheaper gas, cheaper groceries with this diesel deal,» she said.
Diesel prices have remained elevated as conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine continue to disrupt global energy markets, and rising fuel costs have emerged as a central issue ahead of November's midterm elections. Zacharia suggested the agreement could also create momentum toward peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia, pointing to previous Trump-brokered energy arrangements with Venezuela, Canada and Greenland as evidence that the approach can produce results. «I think we're [going to] see some historic wins, and President Trump is [going to] deliver that,» she said.
Energy policy experts, however, are skeptical that the diesel pact will meaningfully change what consumers pay at the pump. Analysts quoted by Fortune described the arrangement as unlikely to make a dent in painfully high prices, with one comparing it to «shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.» The deal marks a stark reversal in U.S. energy posture toward Russia, which has faced sanctions and trade restrictions since the war in Ukraine began.
Zacharia also turned her attention to the midterm elections, arguing that Trump has «delivered historic results» but that congressional Republicans could have accomplished more by passing key legislation, including the SAVE America Act. «I would have loved to see more from our congressional Republicans in the Senate. I think President Trump has done everything in his power to do that,» she said.
Her Saturday remarks followed a Friday night appearance on «Jesse Watters Primetime,» where she criticized Democratic campaign strategy and accused the party of shielding candidates she considers weak from public view. «This is what happened with Joe Biden, basement Joe, for the 2020 election. We didn't see him until we had to,» Zacharia said. «They think they can hide these candidates and we won't notice.» She named California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico as examples, saying both had «disappeared» deliberately because «they're destroying their campaigns.» Talarico returned to the campaign trail Friday after a nearly two-week absence that had fueled days of speculation.
Zacharia also described how she learned of her appointment, telling Watters that Trump personally called her with the news. «I got a wonderful phone call from the chief talent recruiter, the president himself,» she said, adding that he «loved what a fighter I was for him.» She said her role will allow her to continue «promote all of the things that President Trump is doing on behalf of the American people.»
Trump announced the appointment Friday on Truth Social, writing that it was his «Great Honor» to name Zacharia, who currently serves as senior communications advisor to Truth Social at Trump Media & Technology Group. He praised her as a «loyal and brilliant supporter» with an «unblemished record of support» and said he is confident she «will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary.»