Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a
lawyer
[October 15, 2026]
By JILL COLVIN
NEW YORK (AP) — The new White House press secretary is facing mounting
questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her
role as the public face of the Trump administration.
Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked
to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox
News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no
evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where
she worked for a large law firm years ago.
The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump's
decision to hire Zacharia, who had worked for his social media company
for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut
at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.
Afterward, the president was asked by reporters where Zacharia had
passed the bar exam, following a report by the independent outlet
Popular Information that she did not appear to be licensed in any state.
Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to answer.
“When I moved to China," she responded over the sound of Marine One
whirring in the background. It is not clear what she had intended to say
or whether she had finished the sentence.
China’s notoriously difficult National Unified Legal Professional
Qualification Examination can only be taken by Chinese citizens.
Asked what credentials she held, the White House passed along a
statement from Zacharia, who received a bachelor of arts degree from
Pepperdine University in 2007 and received her law degree from
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011, according to the school and her
LinkedIn bio.
“I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate
credentials," it read.
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, added that
Zacharia was "uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the
American people about all the great things President Trump and his
Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as
press secretary.”
A resume under scrutiny
According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia has been the senior
communications adviser at the Trump Media & Technology Group since June
and spent two months as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at
the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
From 2011 to 2013, it says, she served as an associate on the
International Practice Team at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing. She
also worked as the manager of fundraising and communications for
Compassion for Migrant Children, which assists the children of migrant
workers, from 2012 to 2013.
More recently, it says she served as general counsel for Fix California,
a group started by Trump administration official Richard Grenell.
Neither the firm nor the two groups responded to questions about her
tenure and background.
Zacharia has long called herself a lawyer. On Instagram, she describes
herself as the White House press secretary, “Wife, Mom, & Lawyer” (with
four heart emojis after “Mom”).
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White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks with reporters in
the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday,
Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
And her official author page at the California Globe, where she
wrote occasional commentary, says that, in addition to being a
“regular commentator on Fox News, Newsmax," she has “extensive
experience in political advocacy, international corporate law, and
non-profit work, including time as outside counsel for the World
Bank and IFC in Beijing.”
A June 2026 press release from NovaRed Mining Inc. announcing her
appointment to the company’s advisory board, which was first
reported by Popular Information, said her "professional experience
includes work related to international legal and financial
transactions, including matters involving organizations associated
with the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation
during her tenure with Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing.”
In announcing her hire on his social media site, Trump described
Zacharia as "a distinguished Graduate of Pepperdine University, and
the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, an attorney, and a frequent
Commentator on outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax."
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and
brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a
devoted fan and member of MAGA!” he added.
‘No Record’ found
Zacharia is not listed as a member of the state bar in California,
where she currently resides, according to a public database.
Rick Coca, a spokesperson for the State Bar of California, a
regulatory agency that oversees state licensing, said in a statement
that they have “no record of Kate Sharon Zacharia or Kate Sharon
Black" or any version of her married or maiden names "having been
licensed to practice law in California.”
Popular Information said the same was the case in all 50 states they
had queried, plus Washington, D.C.
In response, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a
complaint Wednesday with the State Bar of California asking them to
investigate whether Zacharia misrepresented herself as a lawyer in
violation of California law.
"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,” said CfA Executive Director Michelle
Kuppersmith in a statement.
The State Bar said they could not confirm whether they had received
the complaint or were conducting an investigation, citing
confidentiality laws.
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