Washington, D.C. — Controversy has arisen regarding the legal credentials of newly appointed White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, according to reports by The Washington Post and other media outlets on the 13th (local time).

According to the reports, Zacharia was approached by a reporter earlier that day while walking alongside President Donald Trump as he headed toward Marine One, his private helicopter. The occasion marked her debut as the new White House Press Secretary.

When President Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to answer, she reportedly responded, "When I moved to China," according to local media accounts.

Judd Legum, a journalist who publishes the newsletter Popular Information, pointed out that Zacharia has repeatedly referred to herself as a lawyer on various broadcast appearances, asserting that "while she earned a law degree from Pepperdine University, she has not passed the bar exam in any U.S. state."

The Washington Post also reported that its own independent investigation found no active or expired bar admissions matching either Zacharia or her given birth name, Black.

According to LinkedIn, Zacharia worked as an associate in the international practice group at the prominent Chinese law firm Zhong Lun from 2011 to 2013. She also served as legal counsel for Fix California from 2024 to 2025.

While the White House did not provide evidence that Zacharia is a licensed attorney in the United States, it stated that she "studied international transactional law in China and handled international transactional law practices with all appropriate qualifications."

Stephen Gillers, a professor at New York University School of Law, pointed out to The Washington Post that "holding a Juris Doctor degree does not make someone a lawyer."

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) also raised questions regarding Zacharia's reference to moving to China.

SCMP noted, "When she reportedly began working in Beijing, China's national judicial examination regulations explicitly stated that applicants must hold Chinese nationality," adding that "foreigners were ineligible to take exams for practicing mainland Chinese law."

Zacharia, who succeeds former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as the 37th White House Press Secretary, is a California native and previously served as senior communications advisor for Truth Social.

U.S. media outlets have previously reported that she served as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, and worked as an attorney and conservative commentator on Fox News and Newsmax.

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