Zacharia’s First White House Briefing Draws Psaki’s Criticism

Katie Zacharia’s first White House press briefing drew criticism from former press secretary Jen Psaki, who questioned Zacharia’s legal credentials and criticized her delivery. Zacharia defended her professional experience, while President Donald Trump praised her performance afterward. Psaki discussed the briefing on her program Tuesday, October 13, saying its opening was difficult to watch and asking where Zacharia was licensed to practice law. Psaki cited reports that researchers had been unable to verify Zacharia’s admission to a state bar. The supplied accounts do not establish whether Zacharia holds a law license. In a statement responding to the criticism, Zacharia said she had practiced international transaction law with the appropriate credentials. The White House press office said she earned a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University in 2011. Pepperdine confirmed her educational background after her appointment, according to the reports. Psaki also said she missed Zacharia’s predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, and criticized the new press secretary’s opening remarks. She argued that the briefing’s quality should be considered alongside broader concerns about press access.