Vice President Kamala Harris’ quote, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” has captured widespread attention as she launches her presidential campaign.
The phrase became viral after President Joe Biden exited the upcoming race after a tough debate performance. Harris’ supporters have adopted the quote, using memes and coconut emojis on social media to signify their backing.
Harris made this statement on May 10, 2023, during a ceremony for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. She used the remark to emphasize the interconnectedness of individual lives with their communities and historical contexts, reflecting on the advice her mother used to give.
The comment has since transformed into a symbolic slogan for her presidential run. Supporters humorously refer to themselves as “coconut-pilled” and have dubbed their mobilization efforts “Operation Coconut Tree.” Social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter), frequently use the coconut emoji to show allegiance to Harris.
Kamala HQ, Harris’ official campaign account, has adopted this viral theme, updating its bio to “Providing context” about the quote. Additionally, Chi Ossé, a Democratic New York City Council member, circulated a video montage of Harris titled “Coconut Tree Summer.”
Many are using the coconut tree meme to champion Harris as the ideal successor to Biden, with the playful notion that other candidates “can’t just fall out of a coconut tree.”