Vice President Kamala Harris was recently on a visit to Puerto Rico. She was visiting the Goyoco community center in San Juan along with Mariana Reyes and Frankie Miranda but as she was leaving the center, Harris was greeted by a protester singing in Spanish.
Not understanding the lyrics, Harris was seen smiling and clapping along. However, one of her aides quickly informed her that the man was actually protesting against her. The lyrics, according to reports, translated to “We want to know, Kamala, what did you come here for? We want to know. The vice president is here making history. We want to know what she thinks of the colony.” The song also expressed support for Palestine and Haiti.
Kamala Harris claps along as Puerto Rican group sing protest song directly mocking her in Spanish.
Her aide then informs her and she stops clapping.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 25, 2024
Realizing she had misinterpreted the situation, Harris immediately stopped clapping. She was in Puerto Rico to announce federal aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. During her visit, Harris’ motorcade was also met by protesters, including one holding a sign calling her a “war criminal.” This was in reference to the Biden administration’s policies on Israel.
The incident highlights how Harris was unaware of the critical lyrics and mistakenly applauded the protester before being told the real meaning. It serves as an example of how leaders can sometimes misread situations when greeted by protests or demonstrations in other languages.
