White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirms she did not pass the bar exam

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed on October 15, 2026, that she failed the California bar exam in 2011 and never passed a bar in any U.S. state. Zacharia defended using the title 'lawyer' based on her Pepperdine Juris Doctor and corporate legal work in Beijing, China, though ethics groups filed complaints with the State Bar of California alleging unauthorized practice of law. President Donald Trump and White House officials stood by Zacharia, calling her uniquely qualified.

Zacharia's explanations of her bar exam history

• ▪Katie Zacharia stated that her 2011 California bar exam results were inconsequential because she was preparing to move to Beijing, China, for her husband's work at an American private equity firm.
• ▪When reporters asked Katie Zacharia earlier in October 2026 where she had passed the bar exam, she responded that she went to China, which she later attributed to mishearing the question over Marine One noise.
• ▪White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed to Sean Hannity on Fox News on October 15, 2026, that after graduating from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, she failed the 2011 California bar exam and never retook it.

Dispute over Zacharia's lawyer title

• ▪Katie Zacharia stated that legal experts advised her she could describe herself as a lawyer based on her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University, provided she did not refer to herself as an attorney-at-law or esquire.
• ▪Multiple lawyers and law professors stated that the term lawyer is widely understood to refer to someone who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law.
• ▪When asked on Fox News about social media posts identifying her as an attorney, Katie Zacharia claimed the posts were retweets that she did not endorse as titles.

Legal practice claims in China

• ▪Katie Zacharia claimed during a broadcast interview on October 15, 2026, that China has no bar exam and that her law degree provided sufficient credentials for her work there.
• ▪Katie Zacharia claimed she worked on international transaction law at a Chinese law firm in Beijing using her law degree, despite non-Chinese citizens being legally barred from sitting for the Chinese bar exam.

Public representations of legal titles

• ▪CNN reported on October 15, 2026, that Katie Zacharia shared at least 15 social media posts over the previous two years identifying herself as an attorney.
• ▪Media analysis by Judd Legum showed that Katie Zacharia was identified as a lawyer during at least 18 appearances on Fox News since March 2025 prior to her appointment as press secretary.

Legal complaints against Zacharia

• ▪The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California on October 14, 2026, alleging Katie Zacharia violated Business and Professions Code Section 6126 by holding herself out as a lawyer without a license.
• ▪Representatives from the Democracy Defenders Fund asked California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the State Bar of California to investigate whether Katie Zacharia engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

White House response and support

• ▪White House communications director Steven Cheung defended Katie Zacharia, stating she is uniquely qualified, whip smart, and a wonderful addition to the Trump administration team.
• ▪President Donald Trump referred to Katie Zacharia as an attorney and a distinguished graduate of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in a Truth Social post announcing her appointment as White House press secretary.