Former President Donald Trump has been testing out a new nickname for Vice President Kamala Harris, but his efforts appear to be falling short. In his recent Truth Social posts, Trump has referred to Harris as “Kamabla,” a moniker that has left many puzzled. Even New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi, who sat down with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, couldn’t hide her confusion when he unveiled the nickname during their interview.
“Well, I have a name. You saw the new name?” Trump asked, eager to see her reaction. When Nuzzi admitted she hadn’t, Trump proudly revealed it. His communications director, Steven Cheung, joined in, repeating the name alongside him.
“Trump nodded. He gave me an expectant look, but I was confused. He repeated it again. ‘Kamabla,'” Nuzzi wrote. Despite Trump’s enthusiasm, she was still unsure of what it meant. Trying to explain, Trump added, “Just a … mixed-up … pile of words. Like she is.” Nuzzi admitted she was still struggling to pronounce it and understand its relevance.
This wasn’t the first time the nickname has caused confusion. Last month, MSNBC producer Steve Benen weighed in, pointing out that no one seems to grasp the meaning behind “Kamabla.” Benen speculated that it could have been a typo or an unclear attempt at humor. Others have also been left wondering about its origins. “Is he calling Kamala Harris ‘blah’? Referencing Obama? Just being racist?” one New York Magazine senior editor asked after hearing Trump use the nickname.
During the interview, Nuzzi described Trump’s growing frustration with her lack of comprehension. “Trump stopped what he was saying and stared at me with a look of grave concern and disappointment,” she wrote. “Well, you have to see it to really understand,” Trump insisted, claiming that “there are those that think it’s good.”
Even so, Trump seemed uneasy, turning to his communications director for reassurance. “It’s a good troll,” Cheung responded, revealing that he had come up with the nickname himself. “Yeah,” Cheung added, “I come up with a lot of things.”
Since then, the nickname hasn’t gained much traction. A New York Times report last month noted Trump’s ongoing difficulty in pronouncing Harris’ name, and even referenced his past missteps with Nikki Haley, another woman of Indian heritage, during his primary campaign. For now, it seems that “Kamabla” may not be the clever jab Trump had hoped for.