Katie Zacharia assumed the role of White House press secretary following a rapid six-day transition after receiving a call from the Trump administration. She traveled from Los Angeles to Washington for meetings on Friday and accepted the position later that day, then conducted her first briefing on Tuesday after just two days in the job. Her debut was widely criticized as subpar.
Zacharia has faced significant questions regarding her claimed legal qualifications. During her first briefing, when asked to identify which state’s bar exam she had passed, she responded by referencing her time in China, later claiming she misheard the question. She subsequently acknowledged to a conservative outlet that she did not pass the California bar exam after law school. The State Bar of California informed the Guardian it has no record of her licensure under either her married or maiden name. While President Trump has referred to her as an attorney, that designation legally applies only to those licensed to practice law. A source familiar with the matter stated Zacharia considers herself a valid title holder based on her law degree and international legal experience, and claimed she consulted with other legal professionals before using the designation. However, legal experts note the terms “lawyer” and “attorney” are often used interchangeably, and a watchdog organization has requested the State Bar of California investigate whether she misled the public.
Zacharia’s professional background includes work at a Beijing law firm from 2011 to 2013, followed by a ten-year gap in her LinkedIn profile during which she worked as an affiliate marketer for a multi-level marketing company. She later claimed a role as general counsel for a conservative organization founded by a Trump ally. Zacharia previously advised Trump Media Group and briefly served as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.
When asked about her plans for press engagement, Zacharia stated it remained “unknown at this time” how often she would conduct briefings, noting that Trump “is his best spokesperson” and she would “interact as needed.” She declined to specify which White House official offered her the position or to elaborate on the administration’s reasons for her selection.
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