Report: WH press secretary Katie Zacharia reportedly didn’t pass bar exam; Trump team defends her credentials
Questions about legal credentials
The report said a search of attorney licensing records across all 50 states and the District of Columbia found no record that Zacharia had been admitted to practice law. It also said she had been identified as a lawyer in 18 Fox News appearances since March 2025.
Move to Beijing and work
The report said she was told she could provide legal analysis because of her experience with international transactions and her law degree from Pepperdine University. It also noted that China bars non-citizens from becoming lawyers and from sitting for the bar exam.
Complaint and White House response
Trump praised Zacharia last week on Truth Social, calling her an “attorney” and a “distinguished Graduate” of Pepperdine University. He also noted her previous service as a senior communications adviser at Truth Social. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended her to The Wall Street Journal, calling her a “fabulous and wonderful addition to the team.” He said she was “uniquely qualified” to inform Americans about the administration’s work and predicted she would do an “incredible job as Press Secretary.”
Key points
- The report found no record of Zacharia’s admission to practice law in any state or the District of Columbia.
- Zacharia said she took the bar exam “when I moved to China,” but gave no further details.
- Trump and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly praised Zacharia.