Katie Zaccaria, the new spokesperson for Trump, has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that she did not pass the bar exam in the United States.
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 14 that Zaccaria graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2011 and subsequently failed the California bar exam.
Zaccaria gained recognition as a political commentator on conservative media outlets like Fox News, where she has publicly identified herself as a lawyer. President Trump also referred to her as a lawyer when announcing her appointment.
However, her name could not be found in the attorney registration lists for California, Texas, or Washington, D.C., leading to questions about her credentials.
During her first White House briefing, when asked which state bar exam she had passed, Zaccaria responded vaguely, saying, "When I moved to China," without providing further details. She later issued a statement claiming she possesses all necessary qualifications and has worked in international trade law.
According to the WSJ, Zaccaria failed the California bar exam in 2011 and moved to Beijing with her fiancé, where she worked in the international business team of a major law firm.
The White House clarified that Zaccaria was not hired for legal work.
Steven Chung, the White House communications director, praised Zaccaria, stating she has "unique qualifications and exceptional intelligence" and will perform well in her role as spokesperson.
In addition to the controversy over her legal claims, Zaccaria has faced criticism for previously promoting far-right conspiracy theories and defending Russian President Vladimir Putin on her personal social media accounts.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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