Trump's New Press Secretary Links Abortion Pill to Nazi Death Camp Gas in Explosive False Claim

Trump's new White House press secretary falsely claimed that abortion pills use 'the same chemicals' as Nazi death camp gas, sparking a wave of condemnation from medical experts and social media users.

The newly named White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, is facing intense public backlash following the resurfacing of comments in which she falsely claimed that medication abortion contains the same chemicals used in Nazi Germany's extermination camps.

According to a report from The New Republic, the 42-year-old conservative commentator and former Trump Media & Technology Group adviser was selected to succeed Karoline Leavitt as the top White House spokesperson.

Abortion Pill Conspiracy at Centre of Row

Her appointment immediately drew scrutiny over previous statements promoting debunked conspiracy theories surrounding mifepristone, the most widely used abortion medication in the United States.

In a recorded interview, Zacharia discussed her involvement on the board of anti-abortion activist Seth Gruber's White Rose Resistance project, praising his efforts to fight 'depopulation.'

'The abortion pill has the same chemicals that they used in the extermination camps in Nazi Germany to stop the progesterone from flowing and cut off the oxygen to the baby, right?' Zacharia claimed during the broadcast.

'These are the same chemicals that were used. And so for me, it's just such a blessing and gift to work on a board and work alongside such a culture warrior.'

Experts and Social Media Dismantle the Claim

Zacharia's claims triggered condemnation and online corrections from medical experts, political analysts and social media users, highlighting the lack of scientific basis for her statements.

Video clips of her interview shared on X (formerly Twitter) prompted community context notes pointing out that the gas chambers in Nazi concentration camps utilised hydrogen cyanide (Zyklon B) and carbon monoxide.

In contrast, mifepristone is a synthetic steroid that blocks the hormone progesterone, while misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue. Neither medication contains hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide or any chemical agents used in Holocaust extermination facilities.

Public reaction across social platforms was swift, with users criticising the White House's decision to appoint an official repeating serious historical and medical inaccuracies.

'Well, she can lie with a straight face, it's the second most important qualification Trump has for his press secretaries,' wrote one user on X.

Another commentator noted the basic chemical flaw in her argument, pointing out that while both compounds share standard organic elements like carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, 'a LOT of substances in the universe contain those 3 elements.'

Others added that her willingness to promote false narratives made her fit right into the administration's broader communications strategy.

Corporate History Twisted Into Pseudo-Science

Zacharia previously pushed similar claims on social media last year, attempting to tie mifepristone's development directly to the manufacturers of Zyklon B.

However, medical history documents show that mifepristone was developed in the 1980s by French researcher Dr Étienne-Émile Baulieu and manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Roussel Uclaf.

The loose association cited by conspiracy theorists stems from post-World War II corporate mergers and acquisitions decades later, when French company Roussel Uclaf was eventually acquired by European pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, a conglomerate that had previously absorbed assets from earlier German chemical firms.

Despite the historical separation between the drug's invention and World War II gas chambers, Zacharia's statements conflated corporate restructuring history with chemical composition.

Trump Ally Enters a Highly Scrutinised Briefing Room

Zacharia brings a varied background to the role, having earned her law degree from Pepperdine Caruso Law and working as a frequent commentator on Fox News, Newsmax and CNN. She also completed a brief stint earlier this year as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem.

Her appointment comes as the Trump administration navigates multiple ongoing political and legal challenges. Zacharia officially replaces Leavitt, who departed the briefing room in August to join Fox News as an on-air contributor.

Neither the White House nor Zacharia has issued a formal clarification regarding her past statements as she prepares to assume her duties as official press secretary.