New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defended her legal background after facing questions about her credentials. Reports say she described herself as a lawyer even though she did not pass a bar exam. This issue came to light after her short first press briefing on Tuesday.
Zacharia, 42, graduated from Pepperdine University law school in 2011 but failed the California bar exam. She told the New York Times she moved to China after school to work at a law firm. The New York Post reported that she told a journalist she passed the bar “when I moved to China.”
Explaining the China Comment
Zacharia told the Washington Times that she misheard the question on the White House lawn. She said she meant to explain that she moved to China after graduating from law school. She worked for two years at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing. According to reports, she is an associate within the international practice team.
She said a school official told her she could use the word “lawyer” but not “attorney.” The Washington Examiner noted she was listed as general counsel for a group called Fix California in 2024 and 2025. Sources told the Wall Street Journal she sat for the exam while planning her wedding.
Watchdog Group Raises Questions
A group called Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint about her claims. They claim she does not appear in any attorney databases across California or other states. “A law degree, standing alone, does not entitle its holder to practice law,” the group declared.
They also noted that China does not allow foreign nationals to take its bar exam. The Washington Examiner reported the group said admission in a foreign place would not let her practice law in California. The complaint argues her words make listeners think she is a licensed attorney.
White House Response and Next Steps
The White House press office did not answer directly when asked about her bar admission. They pointed reporters to a President Trump social media post calling her an attorney. That post announced her appointment to the role.
Zacharia has continued to defend her experience in the legal field. She cited her work with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in China. The New York Post said she discussed this on a podcast last year. The watchdog group says her work is not listed on her LinkedIn profile.
Public records now show she did not pass the required exam to practice in California. The Washington Examiner reported she failed the test after her graduation. The New York Post confirmed she told the school president about her title concerns.
Readers can watch for how the White House handles these credential questions. The Washington Times reported she defended her background during her first briefing.
