Katie Zacharia has broken her silence after her first White House press briefing sparked widespread confusion about her legal credentials.
Zacharia, who was named President Donald Trump’s new press secretary last week, faced immediate scrutiny when she offered a baffling answer about where she passed the bar exam. The conservative commentator, 36, had just finished her debut briefing on Tuesday when Trump took questions from reporters in the room. One journalist pressed the president on his description of her as an attorney, asking directly: “What state did she pass the bar exam in? You said she is an attorney. Where did she pass the bar exam? Which State?”
Trump turned to Zacharia, who was standing beside him, and asked: “Which state?”
Zacharia answered: “When I moved to China.”
Her reply added to the confusion over where she may be licensed to practice law in the United States, as state bar exams are generally administered in person within the jurisdiction. The exchange quickly circulated online, drawing ridicule and raising questions about whether she is permitted to practice law in any U.S. State.
In a statement, Zacharia defended her professional background without clarifying which state bar, if any, she had passed. She said she “practiced international transactional law, with all the appropriate credentials.” She did not say whether she had passed the bar in any state.
The University of Dayton, Ohio, explains that laws in the US are governed individually by each state, noting: “A lawyer must pass at least one jurisdiction’s admission requirements in order to practice law in the United States.” The university adds that foreign practice is generally limited to federal areas like immigration law or requires a physical office in the licensing jurisdiction.
According to Pepperdine University, Zacharia earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government in 2007 and a law degree from its Caruso School of Law in 2011. The White House said that after graduating, she moved to China with her husband for his job at an American private equity firm.
Her résumé spans media and government roles. She previously worked as a senior communications advisor at Trump Media and Technology Group, which runs Truth Social. She also served as a spokesperson for former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security, and as a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax. Her LinkedIn profile indicates she serves as general counsel for the conservative nonprofit Fix California, and she served as a White House intern in 2006, during President George W. Bush’s second term.
White House communications director Steven Cheung praised her amid the growing criticism. “Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team,” he said.
“She is uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as Press Secretary.”
Trump announced her appointment in a Truth Social post last week, saying she has an “unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.” He also referred to her as an attorney in the post. During Tuesday’s briefing, Zacharia thanked the president directly: “I want to thank President Trump for the trust that he has placed in me. I have wanted to work for him for a very long time.”
She succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August to spend more time with her young children. Trump has described Zacharia as a “devoted fan” with an “unblemished record of support.”
The briefing exchange that triggered the firestorm came after Trump had already spoken to reporters, with Zacharia at his side. When the journalist pressed for specifics about her bar passage, the president himself appeared caught off guard, turning the question to his new aide. Her response about China rather than any American state only deepened the mystery around her legal standing.
Zacharia’s next scheduled White House press briefing has not been publicly announced.