Katie Zacharia, incoming White House press secretary, appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" to defend President Donald Trump's recent diesel deal with Russia as a move aimed at lowering gas and grocery prices for Americans. She announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to supply 300,000 tons of diesel fuel immediately, followed by larger quantities in November and thereafter. Zacharia also criticized Democratic campaign strategies, suggesting the party is hiding weak candidates from public view ahead of the midterm elections.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but 2 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 70694: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-10
Incoming White House press secretary Katie Zacharia pledged to get to work immediately when she takes over the podium on Monday, defending President Donald Trump's recent diesel deal as a move she says will help lower gas and grocery prices.
asserted
she → income → prices
Speaking on "Fox & Friends Weekend," Zacharia said Trump is using a "multifaceted" approach to tackle inflation while balancing U.S. interests overseas.
asserted
Trump → speak → interests
"President Trump has heard people have been frustrated with the gas prices.
asserted
people → hear → prices
People are frustrated with the increasing grocery prices.
asserted
People → frustrate → prices
And he is delivering what he always does, which are solutions," Zacharia said Saturday.
asserted
Zacharia → deliver → what
He is putting [American interests] first, American citizens first with this deal.
asserted
He → put → deal
And we will have cheaper gas, cheaper groceries with this diesel deal," she added.
asserted
she → have → deal
The president announced Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed 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."
Diesel prices have remained high as conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine continue, with rising fuel costs emerging as an issue ahead of November's midterm elections.
asserted
costs → announce → elections
Zacharia suggested that the diesel deal could also help advance peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia.
uncertain
deal → suggest → Ukraine
"He did it with Venezuela, and he did it with—he's doing it with Canada and did it in Greenland.
asserted
he → do → Greenland
So, I think we're [going to] see some historic wins, and President Trump is [going to] deliver that," she said.
asserted
she → think → that
The incoming press secretary then shifted her focus to November's midterm elections.
asserted
secretary → shift → elections
She argued the president has "delivered historic results," but said congressional Republicans could have accomplished more by passing key legislation, including the SAVE America Act.
uncertain
Republicans → argue → Act
"I would have loved to see more from our congressional Republicans in the Senate.
asserted
I → love → Senate
I think President Trump has done everything in his power to do that," Zacharia said.
asserted
Zacharia → think → that
Her Saturday morning comments followed a Friday night appearance on "Jesse Watters Primetime," during which Zacharia criticized Democratic campaign strategies, accusing the party of keeping candidates she considers weak out of the public eye.
asserted
she → follow → eye
"This is what happened with Joe Biden, basement Joe, for the 2020 election.
asserted
what → happen → election
We didn't see him until we had to," Zacharia told Watters.
asserted
Zacharia → see → Watters
"They think they can hide these candidates and we won't notice," she added.
asserted
she → think → candidates
Zacharia pointed to California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico as examples of figures she believes Democrats are keeping out of the spotlight.
asserted
Democrats → point → spotlight
"Becerra's disappeared, Talarico disappeared.
asserted
Talarico → disappear → ?
And it's on purpose because they know they can't continue letting them talk because they're destroying their campaigns," Zacharia said.
asserted
Zacharia → know → campaigns
Talarico reappeared on the campaign trail Friday after a nearly two-week absence, ending days of speculation.
asserted
Talarico → reappear → speculation
Zacharia also revealed how she learned of her White House appointment, telling Watters that Trump personally called her with the news.
asserted
Trump → reveal → news
"I got a wonderful phone call from the chief talent recruiter, the president himself," she said.
asserted
she → get → recruiter
"He loved what a fighter I was for him...
asserted
I → love → him
I just get to continue doing what I've been doing, which is promote all of the things that President Trump is doing on behalf of the American people."
asserted
Trump → get → people
Trump announced Zacharia's appointment on Friday, writing on Truth Social: "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia.
asserted
It → announce → Zacharia
Katie currently serves as Senior Communications Advisor to Truth Social (Trump Media & Technology Group), where she has been outstanding!"
asserted
she → serve → Social
"She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.
asserted
She → have → beginning
I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration," he added.
asserted
he → deliver → respect
Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson, Louis Casiano and Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.
asserted
Stimson → contribute → report