President Donald Trump makes ‘Pocahontas slur’ at event for Native Americans
US leader makes jibe at Democrat using offensive nickname during an event honouring Second World War Navajo code talkers

President Donald Trump has caused controversy at an event honouring Native American war veterans by referring to a Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas”.
The comment, described as a “slur” by Native American groups in the past, was “made during a speech at the White House to celebrate Navajo code talkers who served during the Second World War,” says Sky News.
Standing in front of a portrait of former President Andrew Jackson - himself controversial for his treatment of Native Americans - Trump said: “I just want to thank you because you’re very, very special people.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It came after what The Atlantic described as “a characteristically vague and nearly meaningless description of the role played by the men, who during World War II served in the Marines, using native languages as a code that the Japanese couldn’t break.”
Then Trump added: “You were here long before any of us were here, although we have a representative in Congress who, they say, was here a long time ago. They call her ‘Pocahontas.’”
After making the crack, Trump turned to one of the Navajo code talkers and said: “But you know what? I like you. Because you are special. You are special people, you are really incredible people.”
Trump has repeatedly mocked Warren over her claim of Cherokee ancestry by calling her Pocahontas.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“I think he definitely says it as a slur,” Jacqueline Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians told The New York Times. “No matter how he feels about Elizabeth Warren, to throw that out there is disrespectful to real Native Americans.”
“While he means to belittle Warren, they feel that it is also belittling to them,” says The Atlantic.
“The nickname insults the original Pocahontas, a tragic figure who was kidnapped, and then later traveled to England with her husband John Rolfe, where she died; it conflates Pocahontas’s Powhatan heritage with other groups; and it is frequently used to mock Native Americans.”
The White House “disputed that characterisation and blamed the senator for not being forthright about her ancestry,” says The Guardian.
“I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career,” Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary said yesterday.
Challenged over Warren’s description of it as a “racial slur”, Sanders replied: “I think that’s a ridiculous response.”
Trump also came under criticism for “holding the ceremony honoring the Navajo code talkers in the Oval Office, where he has hung a large portrait of Jackson, who in 1830 signed the Indian Removal Act that led to the forced removal, relocation and deaths of thousands of Native Americans from the American South,” adds The Guardian.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump’s deportations are changing how we think about food
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Department of Labor’s admission that immigration raids have affected America’s food supplies reopens a longstanding debate
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Gaza peace deal: why did Trump succeed where Biden failed?
Today's Big Question As the first stage of a ceasefire begins, Trump’s unique ‘just-get-it-done’ attitude may have proven pivotal to negotiations
-
The party bringing Trump-style populism to Japan
Under The Radar Far-right party is ‘shattering’ the belief that Japan is ‘immune’ to populism’
-
Can Trump bully Netanyahu into Gaza peace?
Today's Big Question The Israeli leader was ‘strong-armed’ into new peace deal
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
The GOP: Merging flag and cross
Feature Donald Trump has launched a task force to pursue “anti-Christian policies”
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead