Earlier Thursday, Katie Zacharia, newly appointed press secretary, told right‑wing influencer Jack Posobiec that China still lacked 'proper toilets' after her return from a six‑month stay in the country.
Zacharia, 41, entered the White House less than a week ago, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August to care for her young children.
She has positioned herself as a lawyer, listing her role as general counsel of a conservative nonprofit in California and a stint at a law firm in Beijing, yet she has not taken the U.S. bar exam—a prerequisite for practicing law.
The remark has attracted scrutiny over her credentials; the White House has yet to issue a statement, while Chinese officials remain silent.
Trump has touted a 'great relationship' with Xi Jinping, and the next scheduled meeting between the two leaders could be affected by the incident.