Years before US President Donald Trump appointed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary on 9/10, she had lived in Beijing after graduating from the Caruso School of Law at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Zacharia, who possesses basic Chinese language skills, worked as an associate at Zhong Lun, one of China's leading commercial law firms, from 8/2011 to 6/2013. This period marked a time when China was growing in importance in global trade and investment.

New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia. Photo: Instagram/Katiezacharia

"Zhong Lun is one of China's top corporate law firms, often grouped among the 'red circle' firms, a term equivalent to 'magic circle' firms in London or 'white shoe' firms in New York", said Sida Liu, a professor of law and sociology at Hong Kong University.

According to professor Liu, Zhong Lun previously operated mainly in areas like real estate and Japan-related matters. However, by the early 2010s, when Zacharia worked there, Zhong Lun had developed into a comprehensive commercial law firm, offering a full range of services.

"That period also saw many of China's top law firms actively expanding their international operations and recruiting foreign-trained lawyers to support cross-border work", professor Liu added.

Zacharia pictured with US President Donald Trump in January. Photo: Instagram/Katiezacharia

Zacharia stated that she also served as a legal consultant for the World Bank. During her time in Beijing, she held roles in fundraising and communications for the Compassion for Migrant Children organization.

Her husband, Tyler Zacharia, was also in Beijing during that period, working in private equity focused on emerging markets. Tyler is currently a film producer. They married in 2011 and have 4 children. The family resides in Southern California.

Additionally, Zacharia briefly served as spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for external affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. Most recently, she was a senior media advisor for Truth Social, owned by Trump Media & Technology Group.

China experts suggest that Zacharia's background may draw particular attention as the Trump administration navigates its increasingly important relationship with Beijing.

The new White House press secretary's experience could become more significant in the coming months when Trump meets President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Shenzhen and the G20 summit in Miami, where US-China trade, technology, and security tensions are expected to be prominent topics.

Zacharia (third from right) participates in Fox News Night. Photo: Instagram/Katiezacharia

According to Denis Simon, a senior fellow at the Quincy Institute, a Washington-based think tank, Zacharia's experience working in Beijing "provides her with a useful perspective."

"She had the opportunity to engage with China through commercial law and non-profit work, not just through American political debates", Simon said.

He believes Zacharia's years in Beijing "mean much more than just participating in a high-level delegation or visiting as a tourist." Simon analyzed, "Two years working in a China office could have helped her develop a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and the business environment there."

Zacharia shares her workout routine to stay in shape. Video: Instagram/Katiezacharia

Zacharia regularly posts photos showcasing her work activities, sports training, and family life on her personal social media accounts.

"Working in the political world, whether directly or indirectly, is very demanding, and I personally feel daily pressure because of it. I try to keep my family out of trouble", she wrote in a post in mid-September, accompanied by a photo of her husband and children.

Hong Hanh (According to SCMP, Mensjournal)