The White House has defended newly appointed Press Secretary Katie Zacharia after questions were raised about her legal qualifications and whether she is licensed to practise law in the United States. President Donald Trump introduced Zacharia as an attorney during her appointment, while she has also described herself as a lawyer in public appearances. However, scrutiny intensified after she was asked during a media interaction in which U.S. state she had passed the bar examination. Zacharia responded that she had moved to China, and public records reportedly do not show her as being admitted to the bar in any state where she has lived. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung nevertheless described her as “uniquely qualified” and highly capable of serving the administration.
The controversy escalated after the watchdog organisation Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the California State Bar, seeking an investigation into whether Zacharia improperly presented herself as being authorised to practise law without holding a valid licence. Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2011 but acknowledged that having a law degree does not automatically grant the right to practise law in the U.S. She stated that she had worked in international transaction law with the necessary professional credentials and said Pepperdine’s leadership had advised her she could describe herself as a lawyer, though not as an attorney. Reports also indicate that she took California’s bar examination after graduation but did not pass.
Following law school, Zacharia moved to Beijing, where she worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm and later said she provided legal services related to international transactions, including work connected to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank. Since foreign citizens cannot obtain licences to practise Chinese law, such roles are generally limited to advisory or international legal work. Zacharia has also served as general counsel for the conservative organisation Fix California. Despite the ongoing questions over her credentials, the White House has continued to stand by her appointment, while the complaint before the California State Bar could determine whether any further action is warranted.
