White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia’s Bar Admission Status Questioned
Newly appointed press secretary Katie Zacharia said she practiced international transaction law, but officials could not confirm that she is licensed to practice law in any U.S. state.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, who has described herself as an attorney, faced questions about her bar admission after President Donald Trump’s press briefing on Tuesday. A reporter asked the president where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, and she replied, "When I moved to China," without specifying a jurisdiction.
Zacharia’s statement to the White House said she "practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials," but she did not confirm bar membership in any state. Searches of the California and D.C. bar directories, as well as a review of records in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. by the Substack publication Popular Information, found no evidence of a license.
Zacharia earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Pepperdine University in 2007 and a law degree from the university’s Caruso School of Law in 2011. After graduation, she moved to China with her husband and worked on international transactions, according to the White House. Her LinkedIn profile lists a stint as general counsel for the nonprofit Fix California from January 2024 to March 2025 and earlier experience as an associate at Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm.
"Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team," White House communications director Steven Cheung said, adding that she is "uniquely qualified and whip smart" to inform the public about the administration’s work.
"I want to thank President Trump for his trust that he has placed in me. I have wanted to work for him for a very long time," Zacharia said during the briefing.
The lack of a confirmed bar admission has prompted further scrutiny of her legal credentials.