WASHINGTON, Oct 14 – New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is facing growing scrutiny over her professional background and claims of being a lawyer, after questions emerged about whether she holds a license to practice law in the United States or has passed a qualifying legal examination in another country.
Zacharia, who has presented herself as a lawyer throughout her career in conservative media and political communications, has not publicly provided documentation showing that she passed a bar examination or obtained a license in any U.S. state. The White House has also not produced evidence confirming that she is licensed to practice law.
The controversy has drawn attention to President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Zacharia, who had spent only a few months working as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group before being selected for the prominent role. Her first appearance behind the White House briefing-room podium on Tuesday also attracted criticism, adding to questions about her experience and readiness for the position.
The issue became more prominent after Trump was asked by reporters where Zacharia had passed the bar examination. The question followed a report by the independent publication Popular Information, which said it could not find evidence that she was licensed to practice law in any U.S. state.
Trump allowed Zacharia to respond to the question. As the noise of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, filled the background, she began answering, saying, “When I moved to China.” However, her response ended without clarifying whether she had completed a legal qualification there or what examination she may have taken.
The exchange left unanswered questions about the credentials she has cited while establishing her professional identity.
Questions Over Her Legal Career and Professional Background
Zacharia earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University in 2007 and graduated from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law with a law degree in 2011, according to information published by the university and included in her professional biography.
However, earning a law degree does not, by itself, establish that someone is licensed to practice law. In the United States, attorneys generally must satisfy the licensing requirements of the relevant jurisdiction, which commonly include passing a bar examination and meeting other professional standards.
In a statement provided through the White House, Zacharia defended her professional background without identifying a specific licensing authority or examination.
“I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,” her statement said.
The response did not specify whether she had been admitted to a bar in another country, held a different legal qualification or received authorization to practice in a particular jurisdiction.
White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the appointment, describing Zacharia as “uniquely qualified and whip smart” and expressing confidence that she would communicate the administration’s work to the American public.
Cheung said she would do an “incredible job” as press secretary, pushing back against criticism of her qualifications and performance.
Zacharia’s professional profile on LinkedIn lists several positions in government communications, political advocacy and international legal work. It says she joined Trump Media & Technology Group as a senior communications adviser in June 2026. Earlier this year, she spent two months as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
Her profile also lists work as an associate with the International Practice Team at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013. During part of that period, she worked as a fundraising and communications manager for Compassion for Migrant Children, an organization that assists children of migrant workers.
Her subsequent positions included serving as general counsel for Fix California, a political organization established by Richard Grenell, a Trump administration official.
The organizations and law firm contacted about her employment history did not respond to questions about her tenure or professional credentials.
Other public descriptions of Zacharia’s career have similarly emphasized her legal experience. Her author biography at the California Globe, where she has published occasional commentary, identifies her as a regular commentator on Fox News and Newsmax and describes her background as including international corporate law, political advocacy and nonprofit work.
That biography also refers to experience as outside counsel for the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in Beijing.
A June 2026 announcement from NovaRed Mining Inc., which named Zacharia to its advisory board, highlighted her experience with international legal and financial transactions. It referred to work involving organizations associated with the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation during her time at Zhong Lun Law Firm.
Those descriptions have become part of the wider examination of her career as questions remain about the specific qualifications supporting her claims of being a lawyer.
Trump himself endorsed her legal background when announcing her appointment on Truth Social. He described Zacharia as a graduate of Pepperdine University and its law school, an attorney and a frequent commentator on conservative media outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax.
The president also praised her political loyalty and support for his Make America Great Again movement.
Zacharia’s social media biography on Instagram likewise identifies her as the White House press secretary and describes her as a wife, mother and lawyer.
The repeated use of the professional title has intensified scrutiny because publicly available licensing records have not confirmed her admission to practice law in the United States.
‘No Record’ found
California has emerged as a central focus of the controversy because Zacharia currently resides in the state. A public database maintained by the State Bar of California does not list her as a licensed attorney.
Rick Coca, a spokesperson for the State Bar of California, said the agency had no record of a person named Kate Sharon Zacharia or Kate Sharon Black, including variations of her married and maiden names, having been licensed to practice law in California.
The statement is significant because the state bar oversees the licensing and regulation of attorneys in California. However, the absence of a record in California does not, by itself, establish whether someone holds a legal qualification or license in another jurisdiction.
Popular Information reported that its searches had also failed to identify a license for Zacharia in any of the 50 states it examined or in Washington, D.C.
The findings have raised questions about how her professional credentials were described in public biographies, media appearances and announcements related to her career.
On Wednesday, the watchdog organization Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, requesting an investigation into whether Zacharia had misrepresented herself as a lawyer without holding the required license.
The group argued that California law restricts the unauthorized practice of law and called on the state bar to examine whether her public statements and professional descriptions violated those rules.
“In California, calling yourself a lawyer without a license isn’t puffery; it’s a crime,” said Michelle Kuppersmith, the organization’s executive director. She urged the state bar to investigate whether Zacharia had misled the public about her credentials and to take appropriate action if wrongdoing was established.
The State Bar of California did not confirm whether it had received the complaint or whether an investigation was underway, citing confidentiality requirements.
The complaint represents a request for an investigation, not a finding that Zacharia violated the law. Any determination would depend on the applicable legal requirements, the evidence available and the outcome of any review by the relevant authorities.
The questions surrounding her credentials have also revived broader debate about the process through which senior White House officials are selected. Press secretaries serve as a principal public link between the president, the administration and the news media, regularly answering questions about government decisions, policy disputes and national developments.
Zacharia’s appointment followed a relatively short period at Trump Media & Technology Group and a brief government communications role at the Department of Homeland Security. Her supporters in the administration have emphasized her communications experience and political background, while critics have questioned whether her public profile accurately reflects her professional qualifications.
Her first briefing on Tuesday added another dimension to the scrutiny, as journalists and commentators assessed her performance in a role that requires detailed knowledge of administration policy and the ability to respond to persistent questioning.
The distinction between holding a law degree, working on international legal transactions and being formally authorized to practice law remains central to the dispute. Further clarification from Zacharia or the relevant licensing authorities could help establish the precise nature of her qualifications.
For now, the questions about her legal background remain an additional challenge for the new press secretary as she settles into one of the administration’s most visible communications positions.