Debut fumble: New White House press secretary claims to have passed China’s bar exam, yet lacked eligibility to take it
Katie Zakaria stumbled in her first appearance as White House press secretary.
During Tuesday’s White House briefing, Zakaria repeatedly referred to herself as a lawyer. To underscore her credentials, she cited her experience taking China’s national legal professional qualification examination.
Zakaria stated that between 2011 and 2013, she passed the Chinese bar exam and subsequently joined one of China’s largest law firms.
However, foreign nationals were not permitted to sit for China’s bar exam at that time, and passing it was a prerequisite for legal practice. Strictly speaking, passing the exam marked only the initial step toward obtaining a license to practice law—not a guarantee of actual legal status.
Moreover, even if employed at a law firm, such employment does not confirm that Zakaria held a legal role; she may have occupied an administrative or support position.
According to reporting by U.S. media, Zakaria also appears not to hold a valid law license in the United States. Journalists found no records of bar examinations or professional registration in the states where she has worked.
Perhaps buoyed by lingering momentum from recent U.S.-China diplomatic engagement, Zakaria sought to leverage her China background for visibility and favorable perception. Instead, the attempt backfired, drawing ridicule rather than credibility.
Beyond this incident, Zakaria shares notable similarities with her predecessor, Kayleigh McEnany. Though significantly older, both women share a prominent trait: they are mothers of multiple children.
It is widely known that McEnany stepped down to return home and care for her family. In her early thirties, she already had two children. Zakaria, born in 1984, is the mother of four—her personal profile aligns closely with the Republican Party’s idealized image of womanhood.
Most notably, every White House press secretary under the Trump administration has been a woman perceived as conventionally attractive.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879004219837451/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.