Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary, is standing by her legal background while acknowledging that she did not pass the bar exam. In an exclusive interview with the conservative outlet Human Events, Zacharia disclosed that she was preparing to take the California bar exam when she had just gotten married and was getting ready to move to China to join her husband, who worked in private equity in Beijing.
Reflecting on her circumstances at the time, Zacharia expressed being “incredibly distracted and overwhelmed” yet excited about her recent marriage after a long-distance relationship. Despite not passing the bar exam, she considered the results “somewhat inconsequential” as she did not require bar membership while residing in China.
Amid scrutiny for referring to herself as a “lawyer,” Zacharia clarified that she sought advice from legal experts to ensure the accuracy of her title when providing legal analysis. She emphasized her careful approach and denied presenting herself as a practicing attorney.
Regarding her role as White House press secretary, Zacharia stated that she would refrain from commenting on legal matters. She discussed her initial press briefing, explaining that due to time constraints, it was intended to be brief as President Donald Trump would engage with journalists later that day.
Preparations for the briefing were finalized just hours before the event, with Zacharia receiving initial materials the night before and completing them early on the briefing day. Despite the lack of a full briefing beforehand, she expressed satisfaction with her delivery during the briefing.
Zacharia also shared insights into securing the press secretary position, emphasizing that she did not lobby for the role. Monitoring the president’s social media posts to gauge his priorities, she strategically appeared on television to discuss relevant topics, aiming to impress Trump naturally rather than actively campaigning for the job.
The article revealed that Trump personally contacted Zacharia on October 7 about the press secretary position. Following a swift response, she traveled to Washington the next day, met with the president on Friday, and officially accepted the position later that day.
Overall, Zacharia’s journey to assuming the White House press secretary role involved balancing personal commitments, professional aspirations, and a strategic approach to aligning with the president’s interests.