Trump’s press secretary called herself a lawyer. She did not pass the bar exam

US White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is facing scrutiny over her legal credentials after a report revealed she failed the California bar examination in 2011.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Zacharia sat the examination after graduating from Pepperdine University School of Law but did not pass.

US President Donald Trump had described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment to replace Karoline Leavitt.

Zacharia’s credentials came under renewed scrutiny after she was unable to clearly identify where she had passed the bar when questioned by reporters.

In a statement, she said, “I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”

She previously worked with Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing, where a source said she handled international transactions and legal analysis.

White House spokesman Steven Cheung defended her appointment, describing her as “uniquely qualified and whip smart.”

A White House official added that Zacharia was not hired to handle legal matters for the president.