Jimmy Kimmel’s latest Katie Zacharia lawyer joke had even Kim Kardashian laughing
Jimmy Kimmel’s latest Katie Zacharia lawyer joke had even Kim Kardashian laughing
Ellie Muir Fri, October 16, 2026 at 3:28 PM UTC
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Kardashian passed the California ‘baby bar’ preliminary exam on her fourth attempt in 2021
Kim Kardashian couldn’t control her laughter when Jimmy Kimmel made a joke that her legal training made her more qualified than the new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia.
The reality TV star appeared Thursday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and discussed her progress toward becoming a lawyer in the state of California. Kardashian explained that she had passed a preliminary exam, known as the “baby bar,” but hadn’t yet passed the final bar exam.
“So, I’ve made it all the way through except for the final one,” she told Kimmel.
“So you are technically, uh, more a lawyer than the White House press secretary,” Kimmel replied in reference to Zacharia, whose legal qualifications have been questioned after she came into the role this week.
In response, Kardashian burst into laughter, and Kimmel inquired if she would consider applying for the press secretary position.
Jimmy Kimmel joked about the new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, in the latest installment of his late night show (ABC / Getty Images)
“Um, do you have any interest in that? I could put in a word if you like,” Kimmel asked. “[Trump] watches the show.”
“No interest,” Kardashian said with a smile.
Kardashian began a four-year law apprenticeship in 2019 and passed the California “baby bar” preliminary exam on her fourth attempt in 2021. Last year, she announced she failed the main California bar exam but said she would continue trying “until I get there.”
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Meanwhile, Zacharia, who touted herself as an attorney before landing the press secretary gig, fended off questions about her legal credentials and acknowledged that she failed California’s bar exam in 2011.
When a reporter outside the White House asked which state she had passed the bar in, Zacharia replied, “When I moved to China.” She later told The New York Times that she had misheard the question over the noise of Marine One.
“I assumed the question was, ‘Where were you after law school?’” she told the newspaper.
Kardashian began a four-year law apprenticeship in 2019 and passed the California ‘baby bar’ exam on her fourth attempt in 2021 (ABC/Jimmy Kimmel Live)
Kimmel’s latest barb comes days after he wasted no time critiquing Zacharia after her rocky first briefing.
“It was the first day of kindergarten for the new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia,” Kimmel said during Tuesday night’s show. “You know, Trump’s been president for quite a long time now. I think it’s been about what 50-60 years? And in order to keep him awake and interested, every six months they bring in a new fawning blonde dolt to add to the rotation.”
He continued: “Things did not get off to a great start for Malibu Katie today. Her first briefing was brief. It was only 14 minutes long, but even in that short time, she accomplished exactly what she was brought in to do, which is slobber a whole tube of lip gloss all over the president’s behind.”
After playing a clip of Zacharia’s remarks in which she read hesitantly and looked down at her script, Kimmel laughed: “Her reading is good for an 11 year-old. He hired a fourth grader to be press secretary.”
Despite her bumpy start, the White House has rallied to support Zacharia.
“She is uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as Press Secretary,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
