White House spokesperson Katie Zacharia’s law career faces scrutiny | Donald Trump News
Katie Zacharia Faces Scrutiny Over Legal Credentials as White House Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is facing mounting criticism regarding her claims about her professional qualifications.
On Wednesday, the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit organization focused on public accountability, lodged a complaint with the State Bar of California. The complaint raises concerns about Zacharia’s assertions that she is a licensed attorney. In California, falsely claiming to be a lawyer is considered a criminal offense.
Zacharia’s LinkedIn profile indicates she graduated from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011. However, critics have questioned whether she possesses a valid license to practice law, as her claims have suggested.
“Ms. Zacharia has represented herself as a lawyer repeatedly to bolster her reputation and credibility as a television legal commentator and now as the White House spokesperson,” said Michelle Kuppersmith, the executive director of the Campaign for Accountability. “Yet it seems it was all a lie.”
The nonprofit submitted its complaint to the State Bar of California, an agency responsible for regulating the licensing of legal professionals in the state. Kuppersmith emphasized, “In California, calling yourself a lawyer without a license isn’t puffery; it’s a crime. The State Bar should investigate whether Ms. Zacharia has misled the public about her credentials and hold her accountable if she has.”
Zacharia, who has made frequent appearances on Fox News and Newsmax, officially began her role as White House press secretary on Tuesday. During her inaugural news briefing, she struggled with her presentation, at times faltering and needing to repeat herself. The briefing lasted less than 15 minutes, during which she expressed gratitude to Trump and read from a prepared statement.
“I have wanted to work for him for a very long time,” Zacharia said.
After the briefing, she joined Trump outside the White House to speak with reporters. When asked about where she passed the bar exam, she stated, “When I moved to China,” referencing a three-year period in which she claims she worked at a law firm in Beijing.
A biography on the website for the pro-Trump organization Trumpettes USA Inc. states that she “served as outside counsel” for the World Bank and International Finance Corporation during her time in Beijing. Her LinkedIn profile also notes her position as an associate at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013, and she lists a role as general counsel for Fix California, a voter rights group founded by a Trump administration official, for the years 2024 to 2025.
On Instagram, Zacharia refers to herself as a “Wife, Mom, & Lawyer.” However, her claim of passing the bar exam in China has attracted media attention, as the National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination, China’s equivalent, is notoriously difficult and generally reserved for Chinese citizens.
While some exceptions exist for foreign lawyers to practice law in China, reports indicate that Zacharia does not meet the necessary criteria. To date, there has been no evidence that she is licensed to practice law in any U.S. state.
In response to inquiries from The Associated Press, Zacharia stated, “I practice international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”
Since Trump’s return for a second term, Zacharia has been working as a communications adviser at the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, she has held the position of senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of the Truth Social platform, since June.
