Trump's New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Exposed as Non-Lawyer White House press secretary Katie Zacharia admitted to the New York Times that she has never passed a US bar examination, despite being introduced by the president as an attorney. Her career history indicates she worked on international transactions in China without requiring a formal law license. President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has never passed the bar exam in the United States despite repeatedly presenting herself as a lawyer. Graduating from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011, Zacharia failed the California bar exam and did not pursue licensure elsewhere. She subsequently moved to China, where she worked in international transactions, reportedly without needing a US bar license for her specific role. The revelation has sparked controversy, but the White House defends her qualifications for the communication role, noting the position does not require legal practice.