The White House has defended its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, following questions over her legal qualifications and whether she is licensed to practise law in the United States. President Donald Trump described Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment last week, while she has also publicly referred to herself as a lawyer. However, questions arose when a reporter asked her which state she had passed the bar examination in, a requirement for practising as an attorney in the United States. Reports indicate that she does not appear to be registered with the bar association in any of the states where she has lived. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended her appointment, describing Zacharia as “uniquely qualified and whip smart” to help inform the American public. In a statement responding to questions about her credentials, Zacharia said she had practised international transactional law with all the appropriate qualifications. Meanwhile, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability has filed a complaint with the California State Bar Association, requesting an investigation into whether Zacharia repeatedly presented herself as legally authorised to practise law without a licence.