Kamala Harris' coconut tree meme has resurfaced — explaining the viral quote (2024)

“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”

These words from Vice President Kamala Harris, spoken more than a year ago at a White House event, are making rounds online in the form of memes since President Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee on July 21 — and more continue to surface. But why?

First, some background on the Kamala Harris “coconut tree” quote that has been going viral: Back in May 2023, the vice president gave remarks for the swearing-in ceremony of commissioners for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.

During the speech, Harris stressed the importance of not only focusing on the younger generation but being "clear about the needs needs of their parents and their grandparents and their teachers and their communities."

She continued to say that “none of us just live in a silo” and shared some words of wisdom from her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan.

“My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people.You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’” Harris said with a laugh.

“You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you,” she continued.

Her “coconut tree” quote ended up becoming a meme. It resurfaced after Biden announced on July 21 that he would not seek re-election this year and endorsed Harris to take his place as Democratic presidential nominee.

Coconut tree references have been popping up online, shared by Harris supporters, including some Democratic politicians.

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, shared a picture of a man climbing a coconut tree on X, along with the message, “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appeared to reference the meme on X on July 21, sharing a post that included the coconut and palm tree emoji, along with an American flag icon.

Anderson Clayton, Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, also joined in.

“we all fell out of the coconut tree today into a gym full of democrats!!!!” she wrote on X, sharing photos of an event with Harris.

The coconut tree meme has also inspired plenty of creativity on social media. People have been creating remixes of the resurfaced moment from her 2023 speech set to music, with some doing the viral TikTok dance to Charli XCX's song "Apple" alongside it.

Others have shared parodies of the meme on X, with several leaning on pop culture references.

One person folded the coconut tree memeinto a “Sex and the City” parody — and also tied in a reference to Charli XCX's “Brat summer,” which the Harris campaign seems to be referencing with its lime greenX profile banner.

“and so, the brat girl summer turned back into a joever fall. and i couldn’t help but wonder…did we all just fall out of a coconut tree?” the X user posted.

Another X user shared a still from the “Barbie” movie showing a pink White House with tropical trees in front.

“are those… coconut trees?” the X user wrote.

Another person paid tribute to Harris' "coconut tree" quote through a hypothetical conversation between "Lord of the Ring" characters Frodo and Gandalf.

A user shared a photo on X of Meryl Streep's "The Devil Wears Prada" character Miranda Priestly, tweaking an iconic line from the film and swapping in coconut tree language.

"Did you fall out of the coconut tree and smack your little head on the context of all in which you live and what came before you?" the caption on the X post reads.

Another person reimagined the famous Martin Luther King Jr. quote about the "arc of the moral universe," writing," “the arc of the coconut tree is long, but it bends towards justice."

Several bars in Washington, D.C., also hopped on the viral moment by offering Kamala Harris coconut tree drinks, reported The New York Times. A bar and nightclub called Bunker, for example, offered $5 “Piña Kamala” coconut shots all night long on July 21.

Additionally, some social media users seem to be deeming Harris’ campaign as “Operation Coconut Tree.”

The Harris campaign itself also appeared to be in on the joke. The official X page of Harris’ presidential campaign, Kamala HQ, seems to reference Harris' "coconut tree" quote in its two-word bio: “Providing context.”

Lindsay Lowe

Lindsay Lowe has been a regular contributor to TODAY.com since 2016, covering pop culture, style, home and other lifestyle topics. She is also working on her first novel, a domestic drama set in rural Regency England.

Kamala Harris' coconut tree meme has resurfaced — explaining the viral quote (2024)

FAQs

Kamala Harris' coconut tree meme has resurfaced — explaining the viral quote? ›

“You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you,” she continued. Her “coconut tree” quote ended up becoming a meme. It resurfaced after Biden announced on July 21 that he would not seek re-election this year and endorsed Harris to take his place as Democratic presidential nominee.

What is the context of the coconut tree? ›

Coconut tree Kamala Harris meme explained

After Biden announced on Sunday that he would not be seeking re-election and was endorsing Harris for the 2024 presidential race, her supporters began posting emojis of coconuts and trees on social media in celebration.

What do the coconut emojis mean? ›

Over the last few days, users on X and TikTok have begun deploying the coconut emoji as a shorthand to show their support for a Harris ticket. While some have added it to their handles, Colorado governor Jared Polis threw his weight behind Harris by simply tweeting a coconut emoji, a palm tree, and an American flag.

What is the coconut? ›

The coconut. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a perennial plant that bears fruit continuously for up to 60–70 years, 12–13 times a year, yielding between 30 and 75 fruits per year. The fruit, in the form of a nut (Fig. 7.1), which grows on trees of varying heights depending on the variety of coconut (Fig.

Why did Kamala Harris say "coconut tree"? ›

“My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, 'I don't know what's wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?'” Harris said with a laugh. “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you,” she continued.

What does coconut tree stand for? ›

No wonder the mighty plant of Coconut, is gifted the most prestigious title “Tree of Life”, which none other stood a chance for. It is found dancing all around you, contributing to each and every walk of your life in a harmonious way.

What does 🍕 mean from a girl? ›

The 🍕 (pizza) emoji can mean “I love you.” The 🍕 (pizza) and 🧀 (cheese) emojis have become slang for expressing affection between two people.

What does mean in texting? ›

This emoji can depict a single olive, and olive branch, or an olive with a pimento. Use the former to chat about cocktail garnishes, and the latter as a peace offering. Olive branches can also be used to symbolize peace. Keywords: food, olive.

What does coconut mean in slang? ›

In Australia, the term coconut is a derogatory term used against Indigenous Australians (usually, although not always, by other Indigenous people) to imply a betrayal of their Aboriginal identity; a lack of loyalty to their people because they are perceived to be "acting white" (like a coconut, which is brown on the ...

What does the coconut tree mean in the Bible? ›

The coconut exemplifies the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The coconut falls from the highest point on the tree, symbolizing Jesus' descent from God the Father.

What does a coconut tree symbolize? ›

The coconut tree is a symbol of love, loyalty, and faithfulness in the Philippines. The coconut tree stands tall amid adversity and hardship with its leaves hand spread as if giving shelter to those who seek it.

What is the coconut tree myth? ›

A coconut tree grew from the ground. When the husk is removed from a coconut, there are three round marks which appear like the face of the fish with two eyes and a mouth. One of the marks is pierced for drinking the coconut, and hence when Sina takes a drink, she is kissing the eel.

What is the history of the coconut tree? ›

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm tree, which originated in Southeast Asia, and was transported throughout the Pacific either by migrating Indonesians and Polynesians or on the drifting ocean currents.

What is the story behind coconut? ›

Coconuts were first domesticated by the Austronesian peoples in Island Southeast Asia and were spread during the Neolithic via their seaborne migrations as far east as the Pacific Islands, and as far west as Madagascar and the Comoros.

What is the cultural significance of the coconut tree? ›

Indian culture, for instance, associates the coconut with prosperity and uses it in religious ceremonies. In Filipino folklore, the generous nature of the coconut tree reflects a tale of a man transformed into a tree that endlessly provides (3). Coconut oil holds a central role in the cuisine of many tropical regions.

What does the coconut tree represent in the Bible? ›

The coconut falls from the highest point on the tree, symbolizing Jesus' descent from God the Father. Then, the coconut rolls to the lowest point on the ground, representing Christ's humility, and if left, it will begin the process of dying.

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