How the Coconut Became a Viral Rallying Symbol for Kamala Harris

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The fruit is a reference to a former statement by the US vice president who asked “did you just fall out of a coconut tree?” Many Internet users are now using it to support her in the race for the White House.

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A sign depicting Kamala Harris is displayed at City Hall in San Francisco, California, on July 22, 2024. (LOREN ELLIOTT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

A fruit that has become political. Since US Vice President Kamala Harris was propelled into the race for the White House, coconuts have invaded social networks in the United States. “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help”wrote Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz on Monday, July 22.

This image refers to an old statement by the Democrat. Last year, when she spoke about equal opportunity in education, she concluded her speech with the following anecdote. “My mother was sometimes a little strict with us and would say: ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. Do you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?'”the former senator confided, bursting into laughter.

Deemed incomprehensible and with no obvious connection to the subject, the statement was mocked, going viral for the first time. Then during the campaign, the coconut tree became a symbol of support for Kamala Harris, with Internet users using puns, emoticons and images of coconuts to urge Joe Biden to step down in favor of his vice president. Since the latter’s withdrawal, the coconut tree has enjoyed a new moment of glory.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who supports Kamala Harris, responded to media reports about his own political ambitions by writing on X: “Do you think I just fell out of a coconut tree?” This virality also illustrates the enthusiasm aroused among many young Democrats – at least on social networks – by the irruption of the 59-year-old political leader on the scene, while this electorate was increasingly slipping away from Joe Biden.

She has apparently already been endorsed by pop star Charli XCX, who wrote on X on Sunday “kamala IS brat” (sic). bratthe title of her latest album, described by the singer “this girl who is a bit messy and likes to party and maybe say stupid things sometimes.”

In response, Kamala Harris’ campaign team changed the color of its banner on its X campaign account to match the green color of Charli XCX’s album cover.


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