China Extends Invitation to Katie Zacharia After Toilet Remarks

WHO:

CNN - Katie Zacharia, now-ousted White House press secretary

CNN - President Trump, who sacked Zacharia less than a week into her job

CNN - Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry

CNN - Jack Posobiec, far-right podcaster

WHAT:

CNN - China invited Katie Zacharia to visit more often after her remarks about the country's toilets

CNN - Zacharia claimed in an interview that China lacks “proper toilets”

CNN - Zacharia stated, “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.”

CNN - Zacharia's comments sparked responses on China's social media platform Weibo, with some calling her “foolish”

WHERE:

CNN - China, specifically referenced in the context of Zacharia's remarks and the invitation from the Chinese government

CNN - Beijing, where Zacharia worked as an associate at Zhong Lun law firm

WHEN:

CNN - Zacharia was sacked by Trump less than a week into her job

CNN - Zacharia worked at Zhong Lun in Beijing starting in 2011 for nearly two years

WHY:

CNN - Zacharia's remarks were made while discussing perceptions around the lead-up to the US election in 2016

CNN - The invitation from China was a response to her controversial comments about the country's sanitation

HOW:

CNN - Zacharia's comments were made during an interview with Jack Posobiec, a far-right podcaster

CNN - Mao Ning's response to Zacharia's remarks was made during a press briefing

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 04:58 UTC)

China has invited Katie Zacharia, the recently ousted White House press secretary, to visit more often after she made controversial remarks about the country's sanitation during an interview with far-right podcaster Jack Posobiec. Zacharia claimed that China lacks "proper toilets," stating, "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." Her comments sparked backlash on China's social media platform Weibo, where some users called her "foolish," prompting a response from Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry.