Trump’s Mock on Pocahontas

Susan Walsh

President Trump meets with veteran Navajo code talkers and makes a joke about “Pocahontas”

President Trump has once again publicly insulted Elizabeth Warren during a speech on television.

Trump hosted a ceremony at the white house where Navajo code talkers that were recruited during World War II by the Marine Corp to translate in the Pacific area.

This time Trump said “I just want to thank you because you’re very, very special people,” Trump said to the group, “You were here long before any of us were here — although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas. But you know what? I like you. Because you are special.”

Fired up, Elizabeth Warren spat back “It is deeply unfortunate that the president of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur”.

Supportive junior Kyle Dalsimer agrees with Warren and said “I think it’s disgusting that Trump would come after a person who’s really made such a huge impact on our nation as a whole to congressmen Elizabeth Warren and it’s really disgusting overall that he is our president”.

However, Warren’s “Native-American roots” are controversial. Her belief of Native American lineage is based solely on family stories. But extended Native American family member Ina Mapes is Elizabeth Warren’s second cousin said “she was unaware of her cousin’s candidacy until contacted by a reporter, said she does not doubt her heritage”.

Whether Elizabeth Warren really is Native American or not is a second thought because Native American veterans were disrespected at their own ceremony honoring them.

Junior Sherin Kellermann-Nowrouz said “I feel like it’s extremely disrespectful since Native Americans were here before any of us and for what we did, taking their land, creating genocide, raping and pillaging them and then not only that but bringing in slaves forcefully. It’s disgusting that to discredit a group of people who deserve to be here over any of us. It makes me angry.”

Trump has spent much of his “celebrity stardom” and now his presidency to say disrespectful things to other races and genders.

Sophomore Khristie Valdivia “I just think that he really does not think that what he says can affect people. I feel like he should be more considerate of what he says being that he is the leader of the free world”.

Trump does not hesitate to speak what he fully believes and what is on his mind. If another political figure did the same to him he would be very offended.

Sophomore Dani Villarroel said “I think it’s very offensive not only to Native Americans but also to women as well and to that person he referred to as Pocahontas because if he doesn’t want people referring to him as a cracker or an orange why is he referring to his own staff members as Pocahontas”.

Whether Trump genuinely meant it as a joke or not is controversial but

Sophomore Kelsey Lazard said “His comment in his speech was unnecessary and disrespectful. It seems like he thought was a  joke and meant it that way but people didn’t take it that way.”