The Kamala Harris ‘Coconut Tree’ Meme, Explained: The Story Behind the Viral Trend
After Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the presidency, social media experienced a delightful surge of coconut and tree emojis from her supporters.
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Why all the coconuts, you ask? It all started with a speech Harris gave at the White House on May 10, 2023, where she emphasized the necessity of creating opportunities for Hispanic communities and enhancing the lives of both young and older individuals.
She humorously recalled a saying of her mother’s: ‘You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’ This phrase underlined the importance of understanding one’s context and heritage.
After President Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he was stepping down from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Harris, her enthusiastic supporters – known as the KHive – responded by flooding social media with coconut and tree emojis.
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Even Colorado Governor Jared Polis joined in, sharing emojis alongside an American flag. Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Emily’s List included the symbols in their usernames. Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii shared a fun photo of himself climbing a coconut tree to show his support.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, rumored to be a potential running mate for Harris, playfully echoed the phrase by saying, ‘You think I just fell out of a coconut tree?’ This video clip of the speech has become a source of joy for many, with one social media user noting that they watch it frequently for a mood boost.
Not everyone is immune to the charm of the coconut tree meme. Public relations executive Ryan Aguirre created a viral hit by editing an image of a COVID-19 test with coconut and tree symbols, humorously tagging it ‘Biden’s COVID Test’. This post garnered over 47,000 likes. The meme continues to evolve, integrating into various internet trends, including a playful nod to Charli XCX’s Brat Summer branding.
The meme’s reach and impact even caught the attention of Know Your Meme, an internet meme database. They marked the one-year anniversary of Harris’s speech by sharing her memorable words and celebrating the joy it continues to spread online.
