New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has drawn attention after saying China lacked ‘proper toilets’ in an interview aired on Thursday (Oct 15), less than a week after her appointment.
Zacharia, 41, is also facing scrutiny over her legal credentials after giving an inconclusive answer about where she had taken the bar exam, a requirement for practising law in the United States.
In an interview with right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec, Zacharia recalled how China was viewed in 2016, when many believed it would soon overtake the United States.
‘We were all being told Hillary (Clinton) was going to win. The golden days or the glory days of America were over. That China was on the horizon,’ she said.
‘I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, “How is China the next country on the horizon? They don’t even have proper toilets”,’ she added.
China responds to Zacharia’s remarks
China’s Foreign Ministry responded on Friday by suggesting that Zacharia visit the country again.
‘We welcome her to visit China more often when she has the opportunity,’ ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters.
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump has spoken of his ‘great relationship’ with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
At a Washington summit in September, the two leaders discussed issues including artificial intelligence, trade and the stalled war in Iran. They also confirmed plans to meet for a third and fourth time this year.
Press secretary faces questions over legal credentials
Zacharia held her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, answering questions from only three journalists.
She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, a staunch Trump supporter known for her combative style, who stepped down in August to care for her young children.
Zacharia has described herself as a lawyer and listed herself as general counsel of a California-based conservative non-profit organisation. She has also said she worked at a law firm in Beijing.
Asked about her legal background on Thursday, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was later ‘distracted and overwhelmed’ by plans to move to China with her husband.
She said she did not retake the exam after returning to the United States because of the birth of her first child.
