Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary, is standing by her legal expertise but admits she did not pass the bar exam. In an exclusive interview with the conservative outlet Human Events, Zacharia explained that she was preparing to take the California bar exam while in the midst of marriage and planning to relocate to China with her husband working in private equity in Beijing.
She mentioned being preoccupied and excited about her recent marriage, which contributed to her not passing the bar exam. Zacharia emphasized that since she was moving to China, being a barred attorney was not necessary at that time.
Despite facing scrutiny for identifying herself as a “lawyer,” Zacharia consulted multiple legal experts to ensure the accuracy of her title when providing legal analysis. She expressed disappointment at the misconceptions surrounding her background and clarified that she never presented herself as a practicing attorney.
Regarding her role as White House press secretary, Zacharia stated that she would refrain from commenting on legal matters. She also discussed her initial press briefing, explaining that due to time constraints and President Donald Trump’s willingness to engage with journalists, she kept the briefing brief.
Zacharia received the briefing materials the night before her first press briefing and finalized them early the next day, just hours before facing the press corps. Despite the challenges, she managed the briefing effectively without a full prior briefing session.
She shared insights into how she landed the press secretary role, emphasizing that she did not campaign for the position. Zacharia monitored the president’s social media activities to align her communications strategy with his priorities, aiming to showcase her abilities on television to attract attention for the job.
On October 7, while preparing for a family outing, Zacharia received a call from President Trump offering her the press secretary position. She promptly traveled to Washington the next day, met with the president, and formally accepted the role on the same day.
