Donald Trump mispronounced Kamala Harris’s name, and why are we not surprised?
While Donald Trump’s pronunciation is the least of our political problems, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that he just can’t seem to get Kamala Harris’s name right. In a January 31st interview with The New York Times, Trump referenced the Democratic U.S. senator of California, hailing her campaign launch as the “best” of his 2020 rivals. Harris announced her bid for the presidential 2020 race in late January.
“‘I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris,’ he said (with The Times noting he actually said, "Kameela"). "I would say in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her. A better crowd, better crowd, better enthusiasm.
Naturally, Twitter had a field day with the name botch.
But of course…Kameela… https://t.co/iMBKflqiJl
— Sue Stone (standing with 🇺🇦) (@knittingknots) February 1, 2019
Why can't they get it right? Trump says "Kameela,'' @SeanHannity says "Ka-MA-la." It's "KAM-a-la," folks. https://t.co/5TDZbv9hr6
— Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) February 1, 2019
President Trump can’t say Kamala Harris’s name.
He pronounces it “Kameela.” https://t.co/SuwQ13AAVz
— Zach Stafford (@ZachStafford) February 1, 2019
I think it might be pronounced Madam President…
— Jack Dobbyn (@JackDobbyn) February 1, 2019
Spelling and pronunciation gaffes appear to be a common occurrence for the first family. The president’s eldest son took to Twitter on January 31st to reference the NBC sketch comedy show SNL, writing, “It’s almost like a funny version of an S&L skit.”
It’s almost like a funny version of an S&L skit. https://t.co/JSYVOyJZNk
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 31, 2019
Twitter reacted accordingly, of course.
Donald Jr was today-years-old when he learned the N in SNL isn’t short for “and.”
— alcoholic unicorn (@alcholicunicorn) January 31, 2019
“Live from New York, It’s Savings and Loans!!”
— dammit (@thefuture72704) January 31, 2019
My favorite S&L actor of all time is Adam S&ler.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) January 31, 2019
— Ben Rosen (@Rosen) January 31, 2019
Jokes aside, it’s all too common for “ethnic” names (aka those that don’t happen to sound Western) to be botched and mispronounced by people too lazy to take a moment to learn them. It shows a lack of respect—but with Trump, we’re not surprised.
