New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds her first press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, US, October 13, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Alumni of a Malibu university are revolting against their alma mater after it heaped praise on President Donald Trump's newly minted press secretary.
The Pepperdine Caruso School of Law took to Instagram Saturday to congratulate alumna Katie Zacharia on her appointment as White House press secretary, calling her "a valued member of our Dean's Council" and saying the school was "proud to see her take on this important role in public service."
Zacharia then stumbled through her first White House briefing Tuesday and told reporters afterward that she passed the bar exam "when I moved to China." Alumni flooded the Pepperdine Instagram post with criticism throughout the week, and the pile-on only grew after her debut.
"As an alum of Pepperdine, I do not celebrate this," wrote @lehart_no_e in the post's most-liked comment, which drew more than 2,600 likes. "The Pepperdine I know encouraged a life of 'service, purpose, and leadership.' I thought integrity and truth were implied."
Another graduate, @waldmansheeranfamily, wrote that they were "ashamed to see my alma mater celebrating this."
"To me, this administration represents the exact opposite of everything Pepperdine taught us to stand for," they added. "Deeply disappointing."
Several commenters accused the school of scrubbing critical replies. "PEPPERDINE DELETED MY COMMENT WHICH SAID 'Will she be the first Pepperdine law alum to be prosecuted at The Hague?'" wrote @jedpwhite, whose comment racked up more than 2,100 likes.
"As a SOL ALUMNUS I am asking that you not delete people's comments," wrote @lrcfs7. "If you posted this, then you need to be able to hear what EVERYONE has to say."
Zacharia's briefing only added fuel. She spoke for less than 15 minutes and took three questions, and journalist Judd Legum had already reported that he found no record of her passing the bar in any state or Washington, D.C. Foreign nationals are not allowed to sit for China's bar exam.
"How far Pepperdine has fallen," lamented @paigingthewise.
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