Social media has been abuzz with a peculiar trend following President Joe Biden’s announcement to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic ticket. Users are flooding their posts with coconut and tree emojis.
The phenomenon can be traced back to a moment during a speech by Harris on May 10, 2023. During the speech, she humorously recalled her mother’s admonishment of young people, jokingly asking them if they thought they just fell out of a coconut tree. Harris highlighted the importance of the strong bonds between people in their communities and the significance of their shared past, a message that deeply touched her followers.
Following Biden’s endorsement on July 21, 2024, supporters of Harris, known as the “KHive,” expressed their solidarity by inundating social media with coconut and tree emojis. Notable individuals like Colorado Governor Jared Polis and prominent organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Emily’s List also embraced the symbols, incorporating them into their profiles and posts.
Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii showed his support for Harris’ presidential aspirations by sharing a playful photo of himself climbing a coconut tree. In the caption, he expressed his readiness to help and addressed her as “Madam Vice President.”
The meme has continued to evolve, incorporating references to current events and other internet trends, demonstrating its versatility and enduring popularity. People on social media are still celebrating and sharing Harris’s memorable quote, and one post in particular has gained a lot of attention for cleverly incorporating the meme into popular culture.
Noting its significance, even the well-known internet meme database Know Your Meme celebrated the one-year milestone of Harris’s speech, highlighting its widespread popularity and enduring impact on online conversations.
As Harris prepares for the 2024 campaign trail, the “coconut tree” meme serves as evidence of her skill in connecting with diverse audiences and generating significant online engagement. This has played a role in shaping the narrative around her candidacy for the upcoming election.