On Wednesday, CNN’s Jim Acosta called out Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser for Donald Trump, for refusing to say Vice President Kamala Harris’ name correctly. This moment happened during a tense interview where Acosta tried to hold Lewandowski accountable for several of his claims. But what stood out was Lewandowski’s repeated refusal to pronounce Harris’ name the right way, a problem many have pointed out as part of the ongoing disrespect from the Trump camp.
During the interview, Acosta challenged Lewandowski on many of Trump’s statements. At one point, he said, “Corey, can you say that Haitian migrants are not eating pets in Springfield?” This question highlighted how Lewandowski often ignores important issues to focus on false claims.
Lewandowski quickly changed the topic, saying, “I can say that 13,099 murderers were let into this country, 16,000 rapes, and 425,000 people in the last four years have been let into this country by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s own Customs and Border Protection that are running around this country.”
Acosta tried to get back to the point about Harris, saying, “The other thing, too, It’s Kamala Harris. I don’t know. Why do you guys say, KaMALa? That is, it’s Kamala Harris. I just—”
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Lewandowski interrupted, saying, “Jim, we know that they’re committing crimes against Americans. Why can’t these individuals talk about the individuals who’ve been killed by illegal immigrants?”
Acosta pushed back, stating,
“Corey, you can’t say? What is this, KaMAHla? It’s Kamala Harris. Corey, you’ve been in this business a long time. You’re a mature grown-up. It’s Kamala Harris. Can you just say Kamala, or can you not say Kamala?”
Lewandowski continued to dodge the question, saying, “Jim, can you—”
Acosta replied, “What’s going on there?”
Lewandowski deflected again, stating, “Murderers that come into the country?”
At the end of the interview, Acosta acknowledged Lewandowski’s refusal to engage, saying, “Yeah. Well, Corey, you know, I appreciate you coming on. Maybe we’ll have you back. Thanks for your time.”
This conversation showed how Lewandowski deliberately mispronounced the Vice President’s name. Many people believe this is part of a larger pattern of disrespect and racism. Mispronouncing someone’s name on purpose can make them seem less important, and it can be a way to belittle them. This behavior is common among Trump supporters and is often seen as a tactic to divide people.
In 2020, former Senator David Perdue also mocked Harris’ name during a rally. He made fun of it, and many people called him out for being disrespectful. Perdue claimed it was an accident, but most people didn’t believe him. Getting someone’s name wrong once is a mistake; but doing it over and over is an insult.
Trump has a history of using language to insult his opponents. He often gives people silly nicknames, like calling Senator Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas.” These names are meant to mock and demean them, and they show a lack of respect for women in politics.
Acosta’s interaction with Lewandowski reminded many people of Trump’s behavior during the 2016 election. Trump often interrupted his female opponents, like Hillary Clinton. He used disrespectful language to avoid real issues and downplay their voices.
During the interview, when Acosta pressed Lewandowski to respect Harris by pronouncing her name correctly, Lewandowski ignored him and kept talking about immigration. He threw around big numbers and false claims about crimes committed by immigrants. Acosta tried to steer the conversation back, but Lewandowski didn’t want to engage in a real discussion. Acosta’s insistence on correctly saying Harris’ name wasn’t just about pronunciation. It was about respect. As Acosta concluded the interview, he said, “Maybe we’ll have you back.” But it was clear that Lewandowski had no interest in a meaningful conversation.
Acosta stood up to this behavior, and it is important for everyone to call out such tactics when they occur. Respect and honesty should always come first, especially in politics.
Featured image via Screengrab
