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Archived story · published October 15, 2026. Coverage reflects reporting at the time. See today's brief

Politics · October 15, 2026

White House laughs off 'beclowned' Jimmy Kimmel after crude personal jabs at new press secretary

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Following her appointment as White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia faced a series of personal critiques from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and scrutiny regarding her professional credentials. Kimmel mocked Zacharia's intelligence and appearance, prompting the White House to issue statements defending her qualifications and labeling Kimmel a "no-talent loser." Simultaneously, reports emerged that Zacharia, despite identifying herself as a lawyer on social media and being referred to as an attorney by President Trump, never passed the bar exam in the United States. A liberal watchdog group has filed a complaint with the State Bar of California regarding her use of the title.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • Katie Zacharia is the new White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt.
  • Zacharia's first official briefing lasted 14 minutes and included a verbal slip where she referred to her husband as 'my president.'
  • Jimmy Kimmel mocked Zacharia's appearance and intelligence on his late-night show, using the nickname 'Malibu Katie.'
  • The White House issued statements calling Kimmel a 'no-talent loser' and described Zacharia as 'uniquely qualified.'
  • Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University's law school but failed the California bar exam in 2011.

Reported by only some outlets

  • CNN reported Zacharia shared at least 15 social media posts identifying as an 'attorney' over the last two years.
  • The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California questioning if Zacharia violated laws regarding the unauthorized practice of law.
  • Zacharia stated she practiced 'international transaction law' while living in China for three years.
  • During her first briefing, Zacharia only took questions from Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
  • Trump Media & Technology Group previously employed Zacharia as a senior communications advisor.

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