Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, previously called for suspending legal protections for migrants and urged Donald Trump's administration to take control of California in a series of social media posts that have since been deleted. The posts included comments about immigration enforcement, the authority of the federal government, COVID-19 vaccines and Trump's political future.
They have drawn renewed attention following Zacharia's appointment to a senior communications role in the White House. An investigation published by The Bulwark on 10 October 2026 examined Zacharia's previous statements on X, formerly known as Twitter, including posts from several years before her appointment. Her past comments covered several contentious issues in American politics, from the limits of presidential power to immigration policy and disputes involving Democratic politicians.
Zacharia's Deleted Posts on Legal Rights
One of the posts highlighted in the report concerned habeas corpus, a legal principle that allows people in custody to challenge the lawfulness of their detention before a court. Zacharia called for suspending the protection in response to a statement by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller concerning sanctuary cities.
Habeas corpus is an established legal safeguard against unlawful detention. Suspending it can limit a person's ability to ask a court to examine whether their detention is lawful. The issue has particular significance in debates over immigration enforcement, where the government's authority to detain and deport people intersects with legal protections and access to judicial review.
The report examined Zacharia's comments as part of her wider record of public statements on immigration and executive power. It did not establish that she had personally implemented policies suspending these protections.
Zacharia Urged Trump To Take Control of California
Zacharia also called for the federal government to take control of California in a post published in June 2025. Responding to a post by California Governor Gavin Newsom, she wrote: 'The federal government under @realDonaldTrump should take over all of California because clearly you can't be trusted to do a single thing.'
The statement came amid political disagreements between Trump and Newsom, a Democrat who has frequently challenged the president's policies. California has its own elected governor and state government within the United States' federal system. A federal takeover of the entire state would raise major constitutional questions concerning the division of authority between the federal government and state governments.
Zacharia's post expressed her position in the dispute. The report did not indicate that the federal government had taken control of California or that such a measure had been formally enacted. The deleted comment was among the examples cited in the investigation of her previous statements about Trump, Democratic leaders and the extent of federal authority.
Previous Posts Questioned COVID-19 Vaccines
Zacharia's social media history also included claims about COVID-19 vaccines. In August, she reposted an article claiming that eight in 10 women had experienced a miscarriage after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The Bulwark described the statistic as inconsistent with scientific evidence.
Her earlier activity also included posts from an account using the handle @KatieZacharia, which appeared to have been deleted in 2022. In posts associated with that account, Zacharia referred to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as a 'eugenicist' and described COVID-19 vaccines as toxic.
The comments reflected her previous public criticism of pandemic-related policies and vaccine safety. Claims about vaccine risks, however, need to be assessed against established medical evidence rather than social media assertions. The report included these posts as part of its examination of statements Zacharia had made before taking up her new position.
Zacharia's Comments on Democrats and Roberts
Zacharia's previous posts also addressed Democratic politicians, transgender people and the US judiciary. In September 2025, she blamed what she described as 'leftist transgender assailants' for at least a dozen school shootings.
In early October 2026, she criticised Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan who was born and raised in the United States. Zacharia described him as 'an indictment of our immigration system under Democrats.'
She also criticised US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts over his position in a birthright citizenship case, arguing that his opinion was not sufficiently conservative. The remarks covered several politically divisive subjects, including immigration, gender identity, gun violence and judicial decisions. The report presented the statements as examples of Zacharia's previous online commentary, rather than actions taken in her official capacity as a White House spokesperson.
Zacharia Backed Trump's Political Ambitions
Zacharia had repeatedly expressed support for Trump, including his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. She also encouraged him to pursue a third presidential term in 2028. The US Constitution's 22nd Amendment generally prohibits anyone from being elected president more than twice.
In another post, Zacharia argued that Time magazine should be 'forced' to publish a more flattering photograph of Trump after he complained about an image used by the publication. Last month, she also wrote on X: 'President Trump does not need a spokesperson. He is his own best Press Secretary.'
Her previous comments also included concerns about the Republican Party's political prospects. In a deleted post from December 2025, Zacharia warned that the 2026 midterm elections would be a 'bloodbath' for Republicans unless they changed course. The comments illustrated her previous public engagement with debates about Trump's leadership and the future of his party.
Thank you to President Trump for the distinguished privilege of serving as White House Press Secretary.
— Katie Zacharia (@KatieZacharia) October 9, 2026
Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime. President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he… pic.twitter.com/pLSyjiXI6P
Zacharia's White House Appointment
Before becoming White House press secretary, Zacharia had worked as a spokesperson for then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and as a communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group. She had also appeared on Fox News and Newsmax.
Her appointment places her in a role responsible for communicating the administration's policies, answering questions from journalists and representing the White House during public briefings. The Bulwark reported that the White House had not responded to its request for comment before publication.
Zacharia's deleted posts cover a range of issues that remain central to American political debate, including immigration enforcement, constitutional protections, federal authority and the Trump administration's relationship with its critics.
