Trump Campaigns for Georgia Republicans as Press Secretary Departs

President Donald Trump held a campaign rally at the Dalton Municipal Airport in Georgia on October 16 to support gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins. During the event, Trump criticized Democratic opponents Keisha Lance Bottoms and Senator Jon Ossoff, claiming that if Bottoms becomes governor, "she will ruin your state." Trump also asserted that the war in Iran "will be over very, very soon" and claimed the U.S. government monitors all Iranian communications.

Republican candidates used the rally to attack their Democratic rivals. Mike Collins described Ossoff as a "trust fund kid" and a "test tube Democrat," while Rick Jackson accused Bottoms of siding with criminals over police during her tenure as mayor. In response, Ossoff accused Collins of being surrounded by white nationalists, and Bottoms criticized Jackson for avoiding debates and aligning with Trump's tariff policies.

Separately, the White House announced that Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving her position after five days following a poorly received briefing and allegations regarding her legal credentials. In an impromptu press conference, Trump stated he had advised Zacharia to reconsider her role due to the "attack posture" of the mainstream media. Trump also denied claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the White House ordered the slowing of Starlink or Starshield satellite systems, suggesting the claims were fabricated.