Trump Incites Criticism After Calling Warren 'Pocahontas' At An Event Honoring Native Americans

Ada Elder

Nov 27, 2017 6:00 PM EST

Donald Trump is garnering criticism after making an insensitive joke earlier today at an event celebrating Navajo veterans. The President was making a speech honoring the WWII code talkers when he made a callous reference to his nickname for Senator Elizabeth Warren. "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."

The nickname is one that Trump has been using for years, but using it in this context adds an extra layer of ugliness to an already troubling moniker. The nickname is a reference to Warren's claims at Native American heritage, which have been heavily debated. Whether or not Warren is in fact Native American, this event was intended to honor war heroes - not to disparage other politicians. Many people on Twitter seem to agree.