Questions Over Bar Registration and Legal Practice
New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia faced scrutiny on Wednesday regarding her legal career prior to joining the administration. The questions emerged after Reuters was unable to locate records showing that Zacharia was registered as an attorney or a member of the bar in any U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
Despite the lack of verifiable registration records, President Donald Trump has described Zacharia as an attorney. Zacharia herself has stated that she practiced international transaction law and held appropriate credentials before entering politics.
When asked by reporters where she passed the bar exam, Zacharia responded, "when I moved to China." She earned her law degree from Pepperdine University in 2011.
Employment History and Advocacy Roles
According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia served as an associate at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013. She later worked as general counsel at Fix California, an advocacy group founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell, from 2024 to 2025.
Grenell clarified Zacharia's role at the organization via text message, stating she was a "senior adviser, who did a lot of different roles," including "leading the outside counsel, who were our lawyers." Zhong Lun Law Firm did not respond to emailed requests for comment regarding her past employment.
The White House did not respond to questions about Zacharia's legal background or bar registration status.
Timing of Appointment and Media Reaction
Zacharia joined the White House on Monday, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August. Two people familiar with the decision said Trump hired Zacharia after expressing concerns about media coverage of his administration.
The timing of her appointment, just three weeks before November's midterm elections, caught some White House staff by surprise, according to one official. During her first briefing on Tuesday, Zacharia took questions from only three reporters and ended the event in under 15 minutes.
Some media commentators and political analysts criticized her performance during the briefing. However, Trump told reporters he thought she was "very good." The appointment comes as the president seeks to tout his administration's accomplishments and help fellow Republicans retain control of Congress during this critical election period.
Ethics Experts Weigh In on Public Trust
Renee Knake Jefferson, a University of Houston law professor and legal ethics expert, addressed the controversy surrounding Zacharia's credentials. She stated that the debate over Zacharia’s status is a fundamental matter of public trust.
Jefferson argued that the public is entitled to accurate information about whether a government official is claiming to hold a professional role they do not possess.