Coconut tree becomes emblem of support for Harris
Ahead of President Joe Biden’s decision to forgo a reelection bid, an unusual emblem of support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign began trending on social media: the coconut tree emoji.
But why the coconut tree? The origins trace back to a speech last year by Harris at a White House event dedicated to Hispanic American opportunities. Near the end of her remarks, Harris stressed the interconnectedness of individuals within communities, declaring, “None of us live in isolation.”
“Everything is connected,” she emphasized.
To drive her point home, Harris recounted a favorite saying of her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan. “My mother used to say, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’” Harris shared, her distinctive laugh punctuating the anecdote.
“You exist in the context of all of which you live and what came before you,” she said.
A video clip of the moment went viral earlier this year across social media with countless references to the coconut tree. But the meme truly surged in popularity following Biden’s lackluster debate performance on June 27, which sparked discussions about him stepping down.
When Biden officially announced his withdrawal on Sunday, notable Democrats took to social media. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii posted an image of a man climbing a coconut tree with a message to Harris: “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a coconut, a palm tree and an American flag emoji. Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, chimed in with enthusiasm, “We all fell out of the coconut tree today into a gym full of Democrats !!!! ” along with photos from an event featuring Harris.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was considered one of Harris’ main potential rivals for the nomination, made his much-anticipated announcement about his political future Monday by asking, “You think I just fell out of a coconut tree?” He said he supports Harris.
The meme has captivated young voters and even the Harris campaign itself, whose official X page, Kamala HQ, nods to the “coconut tree” quote with its bio: “Providing context.”