RismadarVoice Reporters
October 16, 2026
The newly appointed White House Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia, has admitted that she failed the California bar examination and never attempted it again, following growing scrutiny over her professional qualifications and previous claims of being a lawyer.
Zacharia, who was recently appointed by United States President Donald Trump, confirmed the development during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday, October 15.
The admission followed reports questioning her legal credentials after she repeatedly described herself as a lawyer during television appearances and other professional engagements.
During the interview, Hannity asked whether she had failed the bar examination, a professional licensing requirement for individuals seeking admission to legal practice in California.
Zacharia acknowledged that she had not passed the examination and confirmed that she had never made another attempt.
The disclosure raised questions about her previous professional descriptions, particularly after Trump publicly referred to her as an attorney while announcing her appointment.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 and subsequently moved to China with her husband.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding her unsuccessful examination, she said she had been preparing for marriage and relocation overseas at the time and did not consider the results particularly important to her career plans.
In a separate interview with conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice, Zacharia maintained that she had no immediate intention of practising law in the United States because she expected to pursue professional opportunities in China.
She explained that her experience working with an international legal team in Beijing had contributed to her understanding of commercial transactions and business law.
According to Zacharia, individuals familiar with her educational background and international experience had advised her that she could describe herself as a lawyer despite not holding a United States legal practice licence.
However, her explanation has attracted criticism from legal observers who argue that possessing a law degree does not automatically authorise an individual to practise law or represent themselves as a licensed attorney.
In the United States, legal practice is generally regulated at the state level, with applicants required to satisfy professional admission requirements, including passing the relevant bar examination.
The controversy has also prompted concerns from the Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog organisation, which has called for an investigation into whether Zacharia’s professional representations complied with California’s legal requirements.
The organisation questioned the use of professional legal titles by individuals who have not obtained the necessary authorisation to practise law.
However, no court finding establishing unlawful conduct by Zacharia has been reported.
The controversy comes during her first week as White House press secretary, following her appointment to replace Karoline Leavitt.
Zacharia conducted her first official White House press briefing on Tuesday, October 13, answering questions from only three journalists during a session that lasted less than 15 minutes.
The unusually brief appearance attracted criticism from some political commentators and journalists, although President Trump publicly defended her performance.
Speaking about the briefing, Zacharia acknowledged that she had limited preparation time before appearing before the White House press corps.
Despite the questions surrounding her legal background, the White House has defended her appointment and expressed confidence in her ability to serve as the administration’s chief spokesperson.
The development has intensified public attention on Zacharia’s professional history and the accuracy of credentials presented by senior government officials.
While Zacharia has confirmed that she never passed the bar examination, she continues to defend her legal education and international professional experience as relevant to her career.
Her admission has nevertheless renewed debate over professional accountability, transparency and the distinction between holding a law degree and possessing a licence to practise law.
