Katie Zacharia says she did not pass the bar exam

Zacharia addresses her legal background

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said late Thursday that she did not pass the bar exam, addressing questions that arose about her legal background during her first week in the Trump administration.

Zacharia had previously described herself as a lawyer. President Trump had also described her as an “attorney.” Her Thursday statement clarified one specific part of that background: She did not pass the exam.

The confirmation came after those earlier descriptions drew scrutiny. Zacharia’s statement directly addresses whether she passed the bar exam, while leaving her earlier use of the word “lawyer” and Trump’s use of “attorney” as the descriptions that prompted the questions.

Why the wording matters

The development centers on how a senior White House official’s professional history was presented publicly. Zacharia now has said that she did not pass the bar exam, making that statement the clearest account of her exam status.

Her earlier claim and Trump’s description used terms commonly associated with legal work. The new statement does not change what either previously said, but it adds a direct acknowledgment from Zacharia about the bar exam.

The issue concerns Zacharia’s stated professional background before she joined the administration. It is not directly connected to an election or candidate race. The next steps may include whether Zacharia or the White House further explains her prior descriptions or updates any official account of her background.