Former White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, who served five days in the role in October 2026, addressed the 2026 midterm election results during an interview with the BBC. During the broadcast, Zacharia focused on an ongoing Senate race in Alaska and disputed the characterization of Republican losses as a setback for President Donald Trump. The interview followed election results that shifted control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to the Democratic Party.
The exchange centered on the administration's response to the midterms and reported policy differences between the President and Vice President JD Vance. While Vance had attributed the party's performance to the war in Iran in a social media post, Zacharia stated that there was no division between the two leaders. She also commented on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which House Republicans later voted to block on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by referring it to committee.
During the interview, presenter Victoria Derbyshire asked Zacharia about the President raising concerns regarding election integrity. Zacharia redirected the conversation to the Alaska Senate race between Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola, and independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan. Zacharia described the ballot as a "set-up" intended to confuse voters, noting it is currently being investigated. As of Wednesday morning, November 11, with 84% of votes counted, Peltola’s lead exceeded the combined totals of both other candidates.
The shift in Congressional power impacts how federal policies regarding the war in Iran and military spending are handled. Federal workers and military personnel would see the results of these shifts through the House's recent 211-204 vote to refer impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee, which halted a direct floor vote on his removal. This move, occurring on November 10, indicates the current House majority's immediate procedural handle on executive branch oversight before the new Congress is seated.
What happens next depends on the final tabulation of votes in Alaska and the conclusion of the reported investigation into the ballot structure. As of November 11, Peltola maintains a lead with 16% of the vote still to be counted. The White House press secretary position remains vacant following Zacharia’s five-day tenure in October and the August resignation of Karoline Leavitt. Future military policy in Iran remains a central point of debate between the administration and congressional members from both parties.