Operation Coconut Tree: Kamala Harris’s potential presidential bid sparks memes and backlash
A 2023 Kamala Harris quote has taken the internet by storm. Photo: Getty
Kamala Harris is yet to be officially selected as the Democrats’ presidential hopeful after Joe Biden ended his re-election bid.
But that hasn’t stopped social media users from going coconuts with memes about the US vice president.
The largest subset of memes are based off an infamous 2023 Harris quote:
“My mother … she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’
“You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
More than a year later, many are referring to Harris’ potential presidential candidacy as ‘Operation Coconut Tree’.
Social media users have referenced the ‘coconut tree’ in quips, and remixed footage of Harris saying the quote into clips backtracked with trending pop songs.
when this video single-handedly wins kamala the election… pic.twitter.com/EZKTWS7VWV
— aram (@aramnotagoat) July 11, 2024
born to fall out of a coconut tree, forced to live in the context
— Cassidy (@cassidoo) July 17, 2024
May thy coconut chip and shatter pic.twitter.com/97LqzY76Ud
— Armand Domalewski (@ArmandDoma) July 19, 2024
Voters did not just fall out of a coconut tree — a majority agree that “you exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you,” including 56% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans.https://t.co/2uhskknLHz pic.twitter.com/Yv0H7S5ljg
— Data for Progress (@DataProgress) July 19, 2024
@webkinz.luvr I look sm more serious #fyp #kamalaharris #coconuttree #relatable ♬ original sound – 🎀
“If Kamala’s team is smart, they’ll have coconut merch up within the week,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another wrote, “Every bar in DC is gonna start serving Kamala’s coconut tree piña colada specialty cocktail.”
Knives are already out
But it hasn’t been all sunshine and memes since Biden endorsed Harris as his successor on Sunday (US time).
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Representative Mike Levin, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, former president Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State (and presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton were among the many Democrats who were quick to share the support for Harris.
Former US president Barack Obama praised Biden for stepping aside, but he notably stopped short of endorsing Harris.
Republicans were also quick to attack following Biden’s announcement; Donald Trump told CNN that Harris would be “easier to defeat”.
But he is reportedly trying to pull out of the presidential debate planned to take place in September, and said the Republican Party should be “reimbursed for fraud” because everyone around Biden “knew he was not capable of running” for president.
Trump said his party now “have to start all over again” after being “forced to spend time and money” running against Biden in the first place.
Leading pro-Trump super PAC (independent expenditure-only political committee) MAGA Inc. has already launched an attack ad aimed at Harris, accusing the vice-president of covering up Biden’s “obvious mental decline”.
“Kamala was in on it. She covered up Joe’s obvious mental decline…Kamala owns this failed record.”
Just hours after Biden’s historic announcement, MAGA Inc. is up with this new ad attacking Harris in AZ, GA, and PA. The Trump-affiliated group has spent/reserved $123.8M so far. pic.twitter.com/MqYwormmDF
— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) July 22, 2024
Although the Democrats will not launch any ads on behalf of Harris until she is officially confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate, her 2019 ad targeting Trump has been revived by social media users.
This older ad from Kamala Harris is exactly the hard hits that she needs to land on Donald Trump.
He’s a traitor, rapist, and serial fraudster with the mind of a rest home patient. He belongs in jail rather than the Oval Office. https://t.co/wUbrnTLiCD
— Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield) July 21, 2024
The anticipated battle for the US’ top job has already been labelled ‘cop v felon’, based on Harris’ previous role as a prosecutor and Trump’s recent convictions.
With the election to be held in November, the Democrats are under pressure to select a candidate quickly.
Although Harris’s poll results are similar to Biden’s, there are several other potential candidates that may be selected instead.
“In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward,” Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement.
“This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the party.
“Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”
Social media users have also speculated that if selected, Harris – a Black woman of South Asian descent – will need to choose a white, straight, Christian man as running mate.
Many are already anticipating Harris will face increased levels of racism and sexism over coming weeks.
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