WH Press Secretary Faces Scrutiny      10/15 06:19

   

   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").

   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.