Katie Waldman
Katie Waldman
Katie Waldman is the press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence. Katie Waldman was previously the deputy press secretary for the United States Department of Homeland Security. [1]
Education
Katie Waldman graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics. She went on to earn a Master of Public Administration at George Washington University. [2]
Career
Katie Waldman waded into politics as a press assistant for the National Republican Senatorial Committee back in 2014. She went on to become the press secretary for United States Senator Steve Daines. In that position Katie spoke to the state and national press, prepared the senator for press interviews and other appearances, drafted speeches, op-eds and other public communications, and pitched and booked television, print and radio interviews. [2]
Katie spent time as deputy press secretary for the United States Department of Homeland Security between November of 2017 and February of 2019. She departed that job to work as a communications director for U.S. Senator Martha McSally. [1]
In September of 2019, it was announced that Waldman would be replacing Alyssa Farah as Pence's new press secretary as of October 1st.
About the promotion, Pence's chief of staff Mike Short said: [1]
"She’s got extensive experience and she’ll be a great fit in our office.
She’s shown she has the mettle to handle intense environments."
Personal Life And Controversies
In September of 2019, The Washington Post reporter Nick Miroff claimed that Katie Waldman was dating Donald Trump's senior advisor for policy, Stephen Miller. While the white house doesn't have ethical rules on dating, some people feel that their relationship could become a conflict of interest. Richard Painter, the former chief ethics lawyer under George W. Bush said: [3]
"When I think about it, I am very worried that she doesn't completely recuse herself from making any comments that have anything to do with Stephen Miller or the policies Stephen Miller is pushing"
Back in 2012, when Waldman was a student at the University of Florida she allegedly threw away hundreds of copies of the student newspaper just before the student government elections because it featured a story about how the head football coach was endorsing a candidate from the opposing political party on campus. [4]
In an interview with CNN in 2019, Waldman referred to asylum seekers as a "violent mob." She said: [4]
"Once again we have had a violent mob of migrants attempt to enter the United States illegally by attacking our agents with projectiles.
As has happened before — in this and previous administrations — our personnel used the minimum force necessary to defend themselves, defend our border, and restore order"
See Also
Steve Castor
Catalina Lauf
Trump Nickelback Takedown