Katie Zacharia, the recently appointed White House press secretary, is standing by her legal credentials, despite not passing the bar exam. In an exclusive interview with the conservative publication Human Events, Zacharia disclosed that she was preparing to take the California bar exam at the time she had just married and was planning to move to China with her husband, who worked in private equity in Beijing.
Acknowledging that she did not pass the bar exam due to personal distractions, Zacharia emphasized that the results were not significant for her as she did not require bar certification while residing in China. Addressing criticisms of using the title “lawyer,” she indicated consulting legal experts to validate her use of the term when providing legal insights.
Zacharia clarified that she would refrain from commenting on legal matters in her White House role. She also discussed her initial days as press secretary, including her brief debut press briefing, which she intentionally kept concise as President Donald Trump was scheduled to engage with the media later that morning.
Receiving briefing materials on short notice, Zacharia highlighted the tight timeline leading up to her appearance before the press corps, emphasizing her dedication and preparation for the briefing. She shared insights into her appointment process, emphasizing that she did not lobby for the position but focused on showcasing her capabilities through media appearances.
Recounting the moment when President Trump contacted her about the press secretary role, Zacharia detailed her swift transition to Washington for meetings and acceptance of the position.