Katie Zacharia has admitted she never passed the bar exam after presenting herself as a lawyer for months.
The admission came during an interview host Sean Hannity, where the new White House press secretary, 37, confirmed she holds a law degree but never cleared the licensing hurdle. “You went to Pepperdine law school but you did not pass the bar exam, correct?” Hannity asked her. Zacharia acknowledged this was true. When pressed on whether she ever retook the exam, she said she did not.
The exchange followed a bizarre moment at her first press briefing on Tuesday, when President Trump turned to Zacharia beside him and relayed a reporter’s question about which state she had passed the bar in. “Which state?” Trump asked. Zacharia replied: “When I moved to China.” She later said she had misheard the question.
That misheard answer only deepened scrutiny of credentials she had repeatedly claimed on television. A watchdog group filed a complaint with the California State Bar alleging Zacharia identified herself as a lawyer in at least 18 TV appearances between February 2025 and October 2026. “The repetition and breadth of these statements weigh heavily in favor of investigation,” the complaint states.
The White House has declined to directly answer whether Zacharia passed the bar. Spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement: “Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team. 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.”
Pepperdine University confirmed to Snopes that Zacharia graduated with a Juris Doctor from its Caruso School of Law in 2011 and earned her bachelor’s in political science from Seaver College in 2007. The university notes on its website that a JD prepares graduates to take the bar exam, which remains a separate requirement for practicing law.
Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment just last week in a Truth Social post, tapping her to replace Karoline Leavitt. “It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia,” he wrote, adding “she has been outstanding” at Trump Media and Technology Group, where she served as senior communications advisor. “She was previously involved in my Campaigns, assisting in key Swing States, where we won 7 out of 7,” Trump continued. “She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!”
The bar admission controversy marks a rocky start for a press secretary already replacing a predecessor who had held the role for less than a year.
Zacharia is scheduled to continue her media appearances as the administration moves forward with its second-term agenda.