China invites Trump spokesperson to visit after 'no proper toilets' remark

China’s Foreign Ministry invited White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to visit China again on Friday after she said the country lacked proper toilets. Zacharia made the remark during a Thursday interview while discussing perceptions of China’s rise in 2016. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Zacharia was welcome to visit when she had the opportunity. Zacharia previously lived in Beijing and has faced scrutiny over her legal credentials.

Zacharia made the comment during an interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec.

Mao Ning’s response was given at a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing and included in the ministry’s official transcript.

Zacharia reportedly worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013.

Zacharia acknowledged that she had not passed a U.S. bar examination.

Published Oct 17, 2026 2:31 am KST

Updated Oct 17, 2026 2:34 am KST

New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds her first press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, Thursday. Reuters-Yonhap

China's Foreign Ministry responded Friday to White House press secretary Katie Zacharia's remarks that China lacked "proper toilets," suggesting that she visit the country again.

Zacharia, who took office less than a week ago, made the comment during a Thursday interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec while discussing perceptions in 2016 that China was poised to overtake the United States.

"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 said.

Asked about the remarks at a regular press briefing Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning offered a brief response.

"She's welcome to come and see China when she has the opportunity," Mao said, according to the ministry's official transcript.

Zacharia previously lived in Beijing, where she reportedly worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm from 2011 to 2013.

The newly appointed spokesperson has also faced scrutiny over her legal credentials after acknowledging that she had not passed a U.S. bar examination.

此前，美国白宫新闻秘书凯蒂·扎卡里亚（Katie Zacharia）声称中国缺乏像样的厕所。周五，中国外交部再次邀请她访问中国。扎卡里亚是在周四接受采访时发表上述言论的，当时她正在讨论人们对中国2016年崛起的看法。外交部发言人毛宁表示，欢迎扎卡里亚在有机会时访问中国。扎卡里亚此前曾在北京居住，其法律资质一直备受质疑。

扎卡里亚是在接受保守派评论员杰克·波索比克采访时发表这番言论的。

毛宁的答复是在中国外交部例行记者会上作出的，并被收录在外交部的官方记录中。

据报道，Zacharia 于 2011 年至 2013 年在北京中伦律师事务所工作。

扎卡里亚承认她没有通过美国律师资格考试。

发布于2026年10月17日凌晨2:31（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月17日凌晨2:34（韩国标准时间）

新任白宫新闻秘书凯蒂·扎卡里亚周四在华盛顿特区的白宫举行了她的首次新闻发布会。路透社-韩联社

针对白宫新闻秘书凯蒂·扎卡里亚关于中国缺乏“像样厕所”的言论，中国外交部周五作出回应，建议她再次访问中国。

扎卡里亚上任不到一周，他在周四接受保守派评论员杰克·波索比克采访时发表了上述言论。当时，他正在讨论2016年中国即将超越美国的观点。

“我清楚地记得当时的情景，我刚从中国回来，心想，‘中国怎么会是下一个要去的国家？他们连像样的厕所都没有，’”她说。

周五的例行记者会上，当被问及这些言论时，中国外交部发言人毛宁作出了简短回应。

据外交部官方记录，毛泽东说：“她有机会就欢迎来中国看看。”

扎卡里亚此前居住在北京，据报道她于 2011 年至 2013 年在中伦律师事务所工作。

新任命的发言人也因其法律资质而受到审查，因为她承认自己没有通过美国律师资格考试。