Investigation finds no evidence Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia is a licensed lawyer

An investigation found no evidence that President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has ever been admitted to practice law in any state, despite being introduced as an attorney by Trump and repeatedly describing herself as a lawyer. A search of bar records in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., found no law license for Zacharia, including in California, Texas, and D.C. She holds a law degree from Pepperdine, but a Juris Doctor alone does not authorize legal practice. Her LinkedIn and X profiles have listed her as "General Counsel" for a nonprofit, though IRS filings show she received only fundraising commissions, not a salary. The White House press office did not answer direct questions about her bar admission, instead referring to Trump's social media post calling her an attorney. In California, presenting oneself as a licensed lawyer without an active license is a misdemeanor.