Trump press secretary draws backlash over China toilet remark
Thestandard · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said in an interview aired on Thursday that China did not have “proper toilets,” a remark she framed as a reaction to 2016-era predictions that China would overtake the United States. The comment surfaced less than a week after her appointment and alongside renewed questions about her legal qualifications and whether she ever passed a US bar exam.
Key Points
- Zacharia, 41, was appointed White House press secretary less than a week ago and gave her first White House press briefing on Tuesday.
- In the interview with right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec, she recalled returning from China and questioning claims that China was “on the horizon.”
- Zacharia said, “They don't even have proper toilets,” in remarks tied to political debate during the 2016 US election period.
- She is under scrutiny over legal credentials after giving an inconclusive answer about where she had passed the bar exam.
- On Thursday, Zacharia said she registered for the bar exam but became distracted by plans to move to China with her husband.
Why It Matters
The episode adds an early diplomatic sensitivity to a White House role that often shapes the administration's public tone on China, an issue closely watched in Hong Kong. It also compounds questions about Zacharia's credibility at a time when President Donald Trump has publicly emphasized his “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and plans for further meetings.