Now that former president Donald Trump has shifted his antics from President Joe Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris, it seems he has, once again, made a habit of mispronouncing and mocking her name. At his latest rallies, he couldn’t resist bringing it up over and over again; and making a mess of “Kamala” each and every time without fail.
Trump frequently says, “Ka-MA-la” or even “KUH-ma-la.” He claims that he couldn’t care less about how he articulates it, even asserting that he has heard it said in about seven different ways after he was called out for mispronouncing it intentionally. But, interestingly, when he did it at the convention of the National Association of Black Journalists earlier this month, and the audience expressed their disapproval, he changed his emphasis to the first syllable correctly.
The name Kamala is quite common in India. It is associated with various deities and seen as a symbol of wisdom. When sounding the forename in Sanskrit, it is usually pronounced as “Come-a-laa”, with a longer “a” sound at the end, indicating a feminine noun. In the United States, people often emphasize the first syllable, but on a larger scale, the pronunciation of “Kamala” just might be the least fascinating thing about this lovely name. It’s actually one of the many Sanskrit words for the beautiful pink lotus flower called Nelumbo nucifera, found all over the Indian subcontinent. It is well-known and highly regarded for its radiant beauty and fragrant scent.
What’s also pretty interesting is how Trump has a habit of mispronouncing the names of most people who aren’t white, regardless of their political affiliation. It’s one of the many infantile and disrespectful jokes he makes about anyone he sees as undesirable. He uses it as a way to ridicule and belittle, but this buffoonery is also a nod to a time when America had a narrow-minded way of dealing with foreign-sounding words.
@dailymail During a campaign rally in Montana, Trump said ‘nobody really knows’ what Kamala Harris’s last name is. #donaldtrump #trump #trumprally #montana #usa #politics #election #president #kamala #kamalaharris #republican #democrat ♬ original sound – Daily Mail
Back in the early 1900s, when America was less diverse and American English wasn’t as multicultural, the use of this offensive language was way more common. It was a harmful, overt act of discrimination, a cue used to marginalize one’s ethnicity so they would feel excluded and unwelcomed.
After World War II, Americans became more open to using foreign words and names. One reason for this was the increase in college education, thanks to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the G.I. Bill of Rights. In 1940, only about one in four Americans had a high school diploma. But by 1980, almost one in five Americans over the age of 25 had bachelor’s degrees, which often required exposure to foreign languages.
International travel also became easier and cheaper after the war. Additionally, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 led to a more diverse population in America, unlike anything seen since the early 20th century.
The culinary revolution of the 1990s further exposed the US to new words and the cultures associated with them, as well as the globalization of popular culture that has brought us all into contact with languages other than our own. These factors have contributed to Americans becoming more receptive to using foreign words and names in everyday conversation.
Trump repeatedly mispronouncing Harris’s name contributes to the narrative and his political agenda that harks back to a time when white Americans felt empowered to disenfranchise non-white individuals through stereotypes and hierarchies that upheld white identity. The behavior is a microaggression, one which conservatives also notably engaged in when referring to former President Barack Obama’s name.
@dailymail Donald Trump responded to criticism from both Barack AND Michelle Obama, asking why he has to 'stick to policy' while they can 'get personal.' #trump #donaldtrump #trumprally #northcarolina #republican #vote2024 #election #politics ♬ original sound – Daily Mail
Singling out Harris’s name is a way to make her feel different, like she doesn’t belong, said Myles Durkee, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.
“When you intentionally mispronounce someone’s name who’s less traditional in the American context, it’s almost a dog whistle to “othering” that person, trying to suggest they’re less American, that they’re less worthy of you saying their name correctly in the first place. Particularly on Fox News, Barack Obama’s name was butchered left and right, and they also focused on his middle name, Hussein,” Durkee said.
Conversely, the Harris campaign is not holding back when it comes to using the vice president’s first name. In fact, they’ve embraced it wholeheartedly. In just a short amount of time, they’ve given themselves a new online identity as “KAMALA HQ” and even printed signs bearing only her first name.
Harris hasn’t really responded to Trump’s talk about her name or the attacks on her biracial identity. But her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, certainly has.
At a recent event, he told the crowd that if Trump keeps struggling with Harris’ first name, he has a solution.
“Here’s the good news,” he advised. “After November, you can call her ‘Madam President.’”
