Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed [White House Press Secretary](https://www.whitehouse.gov/) under President Donald Trump, confirmed on Thursday that she did not pass the bar exam required to practice law in the United States, raising questions about the accuracy of her legal credentials.
**What are the key facts?**
- Zacharia, 41, holds a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University (class of 2011) but has never been admitted to any state bar.
- In a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, she answered “Yes” when asked if she failed the bar exam.
- On Real America’s Voice she explained that she registered for the exam but was “distracted and overwhelmed” by plans to move to China with her husband, adding that the results were “somewhat inconsequential” because she did not intend to practice law in China.
- She claimed that many professionals told her she could “label myself a lawyer” based on her degree and business‑law experience at a Beijing firm, emphasizing she could only provide “legal analysis, not legal advice.”
- The Campaign for Accountability has urged the [California Bar Association](https://www.calbar.ca.gov/) to open an investigation, stating that misrepresenting oneself as a lawyer without a license is a crime in the state.
**Why did she not retake the exam?**
When Hannity asked if she had attempted the bar a second time, Zacharia replied, “I did not,” noting that she had “four kids in six years” and never intended to enter legal practice.
**How has the White House responded?**
Zacharia held her inaugural press briefing on Tuesday, fielding questions from only three journalists, a notably brief session compared with her predecessor Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August to care for her children.
The revelations come as the Trump administration faces heightened scrutiny over the qualifications of its senior staff, with ethics watchdogs urging greater transparency.