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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 press secretary Katie Zacharia did not pass bar exam: Sources

5 sources →

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed she did not pass the California bar exam following her 2011 graduation from Pepperdine University. The admission follows reports from The Wall Street Journal and Popular Information questioning her credentials after President Trump publicly referred to her as an 'attorney.' Zacharia maintains that she is a 'lawyer' by virtue of her Juris Doctor degree and that she was careful to avoid titles like 'attorney at law' or 'Esquire.' While the White House defends her as uniquely qualified, legal experts and advocacy groups have raised questions regarding California law, which prohibits unlicensed individuals from holding themselves out as entitled to practice law.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • Katie Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011.
  • Zacharia did not pass the California bar exam.
  • President Trump referred to Zacharia as an 'attorney' in a social media post.
  • Zacharia worked for a law firm in China following graduation.
  • Zacharia explicitly confirmed her bar exam results in interviews with Fox News and Real America's Voice.

Reported by only some outlets

  • CBS News and NBC News report that only Chinese nationals can sit for the bar exam in China.
  • CNN reported that Zacharia used the title 'attorney' in at least 15 social media posts over two years.
  • The Campaign for Accountability and Democracy Defenders Fund filed complaints with the State Bar of California.
  • Zacharia claimed she consulted with Pepperdine's president regarding the use of the title 'lawyer.'
  • Zacharia initially told reporters she 'moved to China' when asked about the bar exam, later citing noise from Marine One as a reason for the confusion.

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