White House Spokesperson Katie Zacharia's Law Career Under Fire Amidst Scrutiny

Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is facing mounting criticism regarding her professional background. A public accountability nonprofit has filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, alleging that Zacharia has repeatedly misrepresented her legal credentials. In California, falsely claiming to be a lawyer is a criminal offense.

Zacharia's LinkedIn profile indicates she earned a law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011. However, critics question whether she obtained a license to practice law, a fact she has implied. Michelle Kuppersmith, head of the Campaign for Accountability, stated, "Ms. Zacharia has represented herself as a lawyer repeatedly to buttress her reputation and credibility as a television legal commentator and now as the White House spokesperson. Yet it seems it was all a lie." Her organization's complaint to the California bar office seeks an investigation into Zacharia's credentials.

Zacharia, a frequent commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, began her role as White House press secretary on Tuesday. Her initial press briefing was brief and appeared hesitant. She later joined President Trump to address reporters outside the White House. When questioned about passing the bar exam, Zacharia responded, "When I moved to China," an apparent reference to her claim of working at a law firm in Beijing for three years.

A biography on the Trumpettes USA Inc website states she "served as outside counsel" for the World Bank and International Finance Corporation while in Beijing. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as an associate at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013 and as general counsel for Fix California from 2024 to 2025. Her Instagram profile describes her as a "Wife, Mom, & Lawyer."

However, Zacharia's assertion of passing the bar in China has drawn significant media attention, as China's legal qualification exam is typically only open to Chinese citizens. While foreigners can occasionally practice law in China with prior experience, this does not appear to be Zacharia's situation. Reports indicate she is not licensed as a lawyer in any U.S. state. In response to the scrutiny, Zacharia told The Associated Press, "I practice international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials." Prior to her current role, Zacharia served as a communications adviser at the Department of Homeland Security and as senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group.