Today, the White House hosted Navajo Code Talkers who served bravely in World War II. During his turn at the podium set up in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump stood in front of a portrait of President Andrew Jackson—who famously signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, touching off the deadly Trail of Tears—and made a joke about Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who claims Native American ancestry.
This is despicable. While addressing Navajo Code Talkers, Donald Trump busts out his "Pocahontas" Elizabeth Warren insult… while in front of a portrait of Andrew Jackson, who signed the Indian Removal Act. pic.twitter.com/4TEmDgyYRW
— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) November 27, 2017
“You were here long before any of us were here,” Trump said. “Although, we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.” He has used the nickname for Warren since his time on the campaign trail.
Warren responded to the comments on MSNBC, saying, "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."
"Donald Trump does this over and over thinking somehow he is gonna shut me up with this. It hadn’t worked in the past, it is not gonna work in the future." Watch @SenWarren‘s response to Trump calling her Pocahontas. pic.twitter.com/C3ulPzlsw7
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 27, 2017