White House press secretary Katie Zacharia dismissed after bar exam controversy

Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary, has been dismissed by President Donald Trump just five days after assuming her role on October 12, 2026. Her departure follows a turbulent week marked by public scrutiny regarding her professional credentials, specifically the revelation that she was never licensed to practice law despite previously presenting herself as an attorney.

The controversy began on October 13 when Zacharia struggled to answer a reporter’s question regarding her bar exam credentials. Investigative reports from media outlets including the Wall Street Journal subsequently confirmed that she had failed the California bar exam in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine University. While she initially claimed that her background as a lawyer qualified her for the administration, she eventually admitted in a television interview with Sean Hannity on October 15 that she never passed the required exams.

Following the reports, the organization Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the California State Bar to investigate whether her public claims constituted a legal violation. While the White House initially defended her appointment, President Trump ultimately stated that the press secretary role was not suitable for her. Following her resignation and subsequent dismissal, the administration is now navigating the fallout of a high-profile personnel failure just three weeks before the critical November midterm elections.