Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki criticized Katie Zacharia after Zacharia’s first briefing as President Donald Trump’s press secretary, questioning reports that researchers had been unable to verify her admission to a state bar. Zacharia defended her professional background in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying she had practiced international transaction law and held the appropriate credentials.
On her program, “The Briefing with Jen Psaki,” Psaki asked where Zacharia was licensed to practice and described the question as unresolved. She suggested Zacharia could address the issue directly. Psaki also criticized Zacharia’s delivery during her introductory briefing and said she missed Zacharia’s predecessor, Karoline Leavitt.
The source material reports that the White House said Zacharia earned a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University in 2011. The university confirmed her educational background after her appointment. Pepperdine President Jim Gash, who had worked with Zacharia when she was a research assistant at the university’s law school, issued a statement praising her and wishing her wisdom and courage in the new position.
Republican National Committee spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre also defended Zacharia. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Baldassarre criticized Psaki’s television work and her conduct as press secretary during the Biden administration. She described Zacharia as a strong communicator and praised her for taking questions from reporters on her first day.
Trump offered his own assessment after the briefing, telling reporters he thought Zacharia had done very well. The White House also issued a statement praising her opening appearance and highlighting remarks about the administration’s agenda, media access and support for working parents. The statement characterized the briefing as a strong start to her tenure.
The exchange centers on two separate issues: the public criticism of Zacharia’s presentation and questions raised about her bar admission. The supplied material contains Zacharia’s defense and supportive statements from the university, the RNC and the White House, but it does not provide independent documentation establishing whether she is admitted to a state bar. The claims about her legal credentials therefore remain a matter for further verification.
