Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, never passed the California bar exam, according to reporting by The Independent. The outlet cites sources who told The Wall Street Journal that Zacharia sat the exam after graduating from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011 but did not pass it.
The questions surfaced publicly this week, shortly after Zacharia took questions from reporters for the first time in her new role. Asked where she had passed the bar — the licensing test required to practice law in the United States — she replied, "When I moved to China," without offering further detail, according to The Independent.
Why it matters
The bar exam is the final hurdle for anyone seeking a licence to practise law in the US, and the title of "lawyer" carries legal weight. The Independent reports that Zacharia has been described as a lawyer during 18 appearances on Fox News since March 2025, and that a search of attorney licensing records across all 50 states and the District of Columbia turned up no record that she has been admitted to practise.
That gap between public description and licensing records is now the subject of a formal complaint. The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California on Wednesday, arguing that Zacharia has "repeatedly held herself out to the public as entitled to practice law without a license to do so, conduct California law treats as a crime," according to The Independent.
A statement, and a defence from the White House
Zacharia responded to the questions in a statement provided to The Independent, saying: "I practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials."
The White House has also pushed back. Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Independent that Zacharia is "a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team," adding that she is "uniquely qualified and whip smart" and will do "an incredible job as Press Secretary."
President Trump, who appointed her, praised her on Truth Social last week, calling her an "attorney" and a "distinguished Graduate" of Pepperdine University. He also noted her previous role as senior communications adviser at Truth Social, describing her as a loyal supporter and a member of MAGA, per The Independent.
What the reporting says about her time in China
Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Zacharia moved to Beijing in the same summer she sat the bar exam, taking a position as an associate on the international practice team at Zhong Lun Law Firm. The same sources said she prepared for the exam while planning a wedding and getting ready for the move abroad.
The Independent reports that Zacharia was told she could offer legal analysis on air on the strength of her international transactions experience and her Pepperdine law degree.
China's rules on legal practice are restrictive. Non-citizens are barred from becoming lawyers there and cannot sit for the Chinese bar exam. Foreign lawyers who have practised for at least two years in their home country may work as Foreign Representative Attorneys, according to The Independent.
Reaction beyond the White House
The story has drawn attention from several outlets. The BBC reported that the White House defended the new press secretary amid questions about her legal credentials. Sky News covered the scrutiny over her claim to be a lawyer and the watchdog's call for a probe. The Guardian, meanwhile, focused on her first appearance at the podium, describing technical problems during the debut.
The Independent has also reported that while supporters of the MAGA movement have defended Zacharia, some of Trump's own staff are not convinced by that defence.
The complaint filed with the State Bar of California is the clearest formal step taken so far. It asks the state bar to examine whether her public statements crossed a line that California law treats as criminal, though no finding has been made and the bar has not announced any action.
Watch for whether the State Bar of California opens a formal investigation, and for any further explanation from Zacharia or the White House about where and when she was licensed to practise.
