Megyn Kelly Criticizes New White House Press Secretary's Debut

Megyn Kelly, a vocal commentator, offered a mixed assessment of Katie Zacharia's first day as White House Press Secretary, stating that while it "wasn't a disaster but it wasn't impressive." Kelly specifically critiqued Zacharia's appearance, suggesting her makeup and attire were styled inappropriately for the role.

"She's got very heavy makeup on. She's got the long curls. She's got some chest showing with the tie. I think she needs to dial it back," Kelly said, adding that Zacharia should present herself as a "serious person." Kelly implied that Zacharia's presentation seemed geared towards a potential future role in conservative media, stating, "You're not there to turn anybody on. You're there to look like a professional."

Despite her criticisms, Kelly acknowledged the difficulty of the press secretary position and drew a comparison to former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, whom Kelly suggested also struggled in the role. "She'll get there. Trust me. Like talking live on camera is not as easy as it looks for most people, and she doesn't seem to have a ton of experience doing it," Kelly remarked.

Zacharia's appointment follows a rapid ascent to the position amid a challenging political climate for President Donald Trump. The 41-year-old lawyer and political commentator replaced Karoline Leavitt and is stepping into a role that will require her to address numerous political controversies.

Questions have also surfaced regarding Zacharia's qualifications as an attorney. While Trump's announcement described her as an attorney and a graduate of Pepperdine University's law school, her name does not appear on California's state bar website, nor in the attorney directories of any U.S. state or territory, according to newsletter author Judd Legum. This has led to scrutiny over whether she has legally claimed to be an attorney.

When asked by a reporter about where Zacharia passed her bar exam, President Trump deferred the question to her. Zacharia responded, "When I moved to China," a statement that has drawn further questions, as U.S. bar exams are administered in person within the United States. Legum noted on social media that Zacharia does not speak Chinese and cannot take the Chinese bar exam. Zacharia previously lived and worked in Beijing for approximately three years after law school, where she practiced international transaction law. She has also held positions such as general counsel for the conservative group Fix California and has claimed to be outside counsel for the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation.