China tells Trump’s press secretary to visit more often after ‘proper toilets’ jibe

Beijing has urged the White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia to visit China more frequently following her recent comments about the country's lack of "proper toilets". The jibe came less than a week into Zacharia's new role as the US president's spokesperson during a tumultuous time for US-China relations.

Previously residing in China, Zacharia recalled in an interview a perception in 2016 that China would overtake the United States. She had previously described China as having "no proper toilets". In response to her remarks, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning suggested Zacharia should make additional trips to the country at her convenience.

Despite Trump's frequent claims of a strong relationship with China's President Xi Jinping, ties between the two nations remain tense. Zacharia's comments follow a somewhat controversial press conference where she struggled to answer basic questions and incorrectly referred to her husband as the president. The 41-year-old is also facing scrutiny over her legal credentials, which she lists as a general counsel for a California-based conservative nonprofit.