Trump says Katie Zacharia should reconsider White House spokeswoman role after she admits to failing bar exam

On Friday, US President Donald Trump advised his new White House Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia, to reconsider her role within the administration, according to the White House. Trump expressed his concerns to reporters, stating that he believed her happiness would be difficult to achieve in her current position. Later, Fox News reported, based on information from a White House official, that Zacharia was transitioning out of the press secretary role.

Zacharia disclosed in an interview with Fox News that she had failed the bar exam, a requirement for practicing law in the United States. Despite identifying herself as a lawyer during interviews and on social media, Zacharia's legal credentials came under scrutiny. The 41-year-old graduated from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011; however, possessing a law degree does not guarantee the ability to practice law.

On Thursday, Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned Zacharia about her bar exam results, to which she confirmed that she had failed. Zacharia explained that her decision to take the bar exam was influenced by personal circumstances, including her recent parenthood and plans to move to China with her husband. She maintained that she had no intention of pursuing a legal career.

The Campaign for Accountability, an ethics organization, urged the California Bar Association to initiate an investigation, emphasizing that falsely claiming to be a lawyer without the necessary qualifications is illegal in California. Zacharia made her initial press appearance with the White House on Tuesday and succeeded Karoline Leavitt, a staunch Trump supporter, who resigned in August to attend to her young children.