WASHINGTON, United States — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia acknowledged on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that she failed the state bar exam required to practice law in the United States, following increasing scrutiny surrounding her professional legal credentials.
Golden Info reports that White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed her exam results during an interview on Fox News with television host Sean Hannity, admitting she did not pass the examination when she sat for it and never retook it.
The disclosure follows questions regarding her legal background after United States President Donald Trump appointed her to the White House role. Katie Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2011. On social media platforms and during media appearances, she has publicly referred to herself as a lawyer and listed herself as general counsel for a California-based conservative non-profit organization.
Speaking in a separate interview on Real America’s Voice, Katie Zacharia stated that she registered for the exam but was distracted due to preparations to relocate to China with her husband. Foreign nationals are prohibited from taking the bar examination in China, though they are permitted to undertake specific legal duties within Chinese law firms. Katie Zacharia previously worked at a law firm in Beijing and stated that industry professionals assured her that her law degree and international business law experience permitted her to label herself a lawyer and offer legal analysis.
The admission has drawn challenges from public ethics watchdog organizations. The Campaign for Accountability called on the State Bar of California to initiate a formal investigation into the matter, stating in an official press release that describing oneself as an attorney without a valid license constitutes a criminal offense under California state law.
Katie Zacharia conducted her initial White House press briefing on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, taking questions from three reporters. She assumed the position following the departure of former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who resigned from the post in August 2026.