Donald Trump's week has been marked by the abrupt dismissal of his new press secretary after just five days, a further easing of sanctions on Russia, and mounting concerns over potential election interference as the midterms approach.
Press secretary sacked after disastrous briefing
Katie Zacharia was appointed press secretary on Monday, but her tenure lasted only until Friday. Her debut White House press briefing lasted 13 minutes, during which she took questions from just three people and made an embarrassing gaffe, referring to her husband as "my president."
Questions about her credentials also surfaced, as she had previously described herself as a lawyer or attorney, but failed the California bar exam in 2011. When asked about it, she mentioned "when I was in China," where she had lived after college and worked at a law firm, though citizenship is required to take the bar exam there.
Following appearances on Fox News shows hosted by Sean Hannity and on Fox and Friends, where she faced tough questioning, Trump told reporters on Friday that the job was "not for her" and she would be "transitioned" to another role. The interview with Hannity was reportedly arranged by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and has been described as a "sanctioned hit."
Sanctions on Russia relaxed further
Trump signed an executive order suspending additional sanctions on Russia, which he had signed into law only a month ago. This follows a previous move to relax sanctions allowing Russian diesel fuel into American tractors. Trump stated the scrapping was in the US "national interest," but the decision has drawn bipartisan backlash from lawmakers.
Additionally, Starshield, the satellite internet service used by Ukraine for defensive intelligence and drone control, has reportedly been limited, putting lives at risk. Reuters reported the limitation was deliberate and ordered from within the Trump administration, though both Trump and Elon Musk have denied involvement.
Midterm threats and campaign trail
With all 435 House seats, 34 Senate seats, and 36 governorships up for grabs, Trump has been holding rallies in states like Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, and Michigan. Statewide polls suggest Democrats could win control of both chambers, with even Texas looking competitive. Trump's approval rating is as low as 22%, and his frequent refrain, "Pretend I'm on the ballot," may not help.
Three Democratic senators—Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Dick Durbin—wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting a commitment not to seize ballots or election materials before results are certified. This follows the Justice Department's lawsuit against California election officials and Trump's threat to jail officials who don't comply. The DOJ also seized 2020 ballots from Georgia's Fulton County earlier this year, though Georgia's votes were counted three times and affirmed Joe Biden's win.
Racist remarks on the campaign trail
In Michigan, Kid Rock, a Trump ally, made comments on Fox News about Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan-born epidemiologist, suggesting he might not be assimilated and comparing him to the Fort Hood shooter and the September 11 attackers. Trump himself has deliberately misnamed El-Sayed as "Mohammed El Sayed," and when criticized, said, "I don't care. I'm the President of the United States, I can call you whatever the hell I want."
