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Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki mocked President Donald Trump’s new press secretary Katie Zacharia on Tuesday, following Zacharia’s first White House briefing.
Psaki questioned Zacharia’s legal credentials after citing reports that researchers could not verify her admission to a state bar. The former Biden White House press secretary also criticized Zacharia’s handling of her first briefing and suggested Trump had appointed someone whose legal qualifications remained unclear.
“So where exactly is Katie Zacharia licensed to practice law? It is a very weird mystery, right? … A potentially fake lawyer? I don’t know. She could answer the questions and provide clarity,” Psaki said during her show, “The Briefing with Jen Psaki.”
Zacharia responded to the criticism in a statement to Fox News Digital, defending her professional experience.
“I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,” Zacharia said.
Zacharia earned her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University in 2011, the White House press office said.
The university confirmed her educational background in a statement published following her appointment. Pepperdine President Jim Gash, who previously worked with Zacharia when she served as his research assistant at the university’s law school, praised her following Trump’s announcement.
“Pepperdine is proud to count Katie among our alumni, former colleagues and friends,” Gash said. “As she takes on this significant responsibility, we pray that God will grant her wisdom and courage. We look forward to seeing her use her incredible gifts and extensive experience in service to our nation.”
Republican National Committee spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre also defended Zacharia in a statement to Fox News Digital, criticizing Psaki’s television career and her handling of the White House briefing room under former President Joe Biden.
“Jen Psaki’s doing what she does best — trying to circle back to relevance to save her failing show,” she said. “Katie Zacharia is an unwavering supporter of President Trump and a sharp communicator; she deserves credit for jumping into the pit on her first day to face the media Psaki and Biden spent years dodging.”
Psaki suggested she missed Zacharia’s predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, before playing clips from the new press secretary’s introductory remarks. After Zacharia thanked Trump for appointing her and expressed enthusiasm about joining the administration, Psaki criticized her delivery.
“Oh, Katie, Katie, Katie, I am so deeply uncomfortable already, and I’ve watched it multiple times today,” Psaki said. “Read all those words all by yourself without having to sound anything out, at least not while standing behind the podium, maybe BEFORE.”
Following the briefing, Trump praised his new press secretary when reporters asked about her performance.
“I thought she was very good,” Trump said.
The White House issued a statement Tuesday praising Zacharia’s introductory briefing and highlighting her remarks about the administration’s agenda, media access and support for working parents.
“Katie Zacharia delivered a commanding inaugural press briefing as the 37th White House Press Secretary,” the statement said.
“The briefing, which generated wall-to-wall coverage, served as a strong introduction to her tenure and highlighted the Trump Administration’s record of delivering historic successes for the American people.”