# Trump admin official says Katie Zacharia didn't pass California bar exam

> White House press secretary Katie Zacharia failed California bar exam, Trump admin official claims.
- Title: Trump admin official says Katie Zacharia didn't pass…
- Summary: White House press secretary Katie Zacharia failed California bar exam, Trump admin official claims.
- Keywords: katie zacharia, california bar exam, trump administration, white house press secretary, lawyer, attorney, pepperdine law, news, local, Trump, admin, official
- Source: NBC Bay Area — https://nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/katie-zacharia-california-bar-exam-trump-administration-official/4158662
- Published: 2026-10-15T21:00:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: katie zacharia, california bar exam, trump administration, white house press secretary, lawyer, attorney, pepperdine law, news, local
## Trump admin official says
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia did not pass California bar exam when she took it after graduating from law school.
## Administration official argues
Zacharia could technically be considered a lawyer but not an attorney.
## Trump called her attorney
President Donald Trump referred to Zacharia as an attorney in his Truth Social post.
## Lawyers dispute
Legal experts say lawyer refers to someone who passed bar exam and is licensed to practice law.
## Zacharia's background
Zach as a political activist from Huntington Beach, California who graduated from Pepperdine Law.
## Zacharia claims
Zacharia practiced law in China and provided legal analysis without legal advice.
## Democracy Defenders Fund asks
Democracy Defenders Fund requested California Attorney General to investigate Zacharia for unauthorized practice of law.
## Key takeaway

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia did not pass California bar exam, though Trump administration called her a lawyer.