{
  "id": 14831644,
  "title": "Trump’s new press secretary appears to acknowledge failing Bar exam amid scrutiny over lawyer claims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/trumps-new-press-secretary-appears-to-acknowledge-failing-bar-exam",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T01:02:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/16/trumps-new-press-secretary-appears-to-acknowledge-failing-bar-exam-amid-scrutiny-over-lawyer-claims/239264"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "WASHINGTON, Oct 16 — As new scrutiny of her legal credentials surfaces, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia seems to have acknowledged her failure to pass the Bar exam during her questioning by conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice. Despite being appointed by President Donald Trump, Zacharia has repeatedly described herself as a lawyer on television and social media platforms, including on her role as the general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit. However, there is no evidence that she has ever passed the Bar exam, a requirement for obtaining a license to practice law in the United States, after earning her law degree from Pepperdine University. When questioned about her legal status, Zacharia claimed to have registered for the Bar exam but became \"distracted and overwhelmed\" while planning her move to China with her husband. She clarified that her decision to take the exam was later abandoned, as she did not need it in China, and left the country shortly afterwards. Upon her return to the United States, Zacharia gave birth to her first child, leading her to forgo retaking the Bar exam. She argued that some in the legal profession assured her that, due to her law degree and business law experience in China, she could label herself a lawyer, provide legal analysis, but not legal advice. The Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics organization, has called for the California Bar Association to investigate Zacharia's claims, stating that in California, falsely presenting oneself as a lawyer without a license constitutes a crime. Zacharia made her first White House press appearance on Tuesday, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August to focus on her young children.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, Oct 16 — New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, under scrutiny over her legal credentials, se...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Zacharia 'tracked every news hit' to capture Trump's attention in press secretary search",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/zacharia-tracked-every-news-hit-to-capture-trumps-attention-in-press",
        "published": "2026-10-15T19:26:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/new-white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-defends-her-legal",
        "published": "2026-10-15T19:40:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia’s law background called into question",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/trump-press-secretary-katie-zacharias-law-background-called-into",
        "published": "2026-10-15T20:18:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Today",
        "title": "New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/new-white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-defends-her-legal-14796049",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:39:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia never passed bar exam, wrongly claims China has none",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/trump-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-never-passed-bar-exam-wrongly",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:52:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Trump’s new press secretary says it’s ‘unknown’ how much she’ll deal with media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/trumps-new-press-secretary-says-its-unknown-how-much-shell-deal-with",
        "published": "2026-10-15T22:58:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Trump’s new press secretary defends ‘lawyer’ title",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/trumps-new-press-secretary-defends-lawyer-title",
        "published": "2026-10-16T00:18:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Defends Her Legal Background and Short First Briefing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/new-white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-defends-her-legal",
        "published": "2026-10-16T01:24:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Trump's new press secretary defends 'lawyer' title",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/trumps-new-press-secretary-defends-lawyer-title-14857612",
        "published": "2026-10-16T03:02:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}