Katie Zacharia's Use of 'Attorney' Title Under Scrutiny

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, who failed the bar exam in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine University, has faced scrutiny for referring to herself as an "attorney" in at least 15 social media posts. According to The Wall Street Journal, questions arose about her credentials after her use of the title was highlighted. Zacharia stated to The New York Times that she was advised by Pepperdine’s president not to use "attorney" or "esquire" during her media appearances, but that "lawyer" would be acceptable. She also mentioned to Real America’s Voice that she was careful in how she presented herself and did not intend to misrepresent her qualifications. However, from April 2025 to September 2026, she shared multiple posts on X and Truth Social that labeled her as an "attorney," including a now-deleted post referencing a Fox News headline. In an August 31 appearance on Fox News, she referred to herself as a lawyer while discussing legal procedures. A source informed CNN that her sharing of these posts was not an endorsement of the title. The White House has expressed support for Zacharia, with Communications Director Steven Cheung describing her as a valuable addition to the team. After failing the bar exam, Zacharia worked at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing, where she was told a law license was not necessary for providing legal analysis. The ethics watchdog group Campaign for Accountability has called for an investigation into whether Zacharia violated California law by misrepresenting herself as a practicing lawyer, which can be classified as a misdemeanor. Additionally, some Pepperdine alumni have expressed disappointment regarding her position, with one Instagram user stating that the administration represents values contrary to those taught at the university.