Trump aide scolded by CNN host for botching Kamala Harris’s name

Donald Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski was scolded by CNN anchor Jim Acosta on Wednesday for seemingly deliberately mispronouncing Kamala Harris’s name.

In an appearance on CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta one day after the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, Lewandowski incorrectly pronounced the Democratic presidential nominee’s first name – placing a heavy emphasis on its middle syllable.

It’s a habit that Trump and his fellow MAGA Republicans have been repeatedly employing during the 2024 race.

This time round, Acosta called out his guest for it.

“Corey, you’ve been in this business a long time. I think you’re a mature grown-up,” he said, before schooling him in how to say her name properly.

“It’s Kamala Harris. Can you say Kamala? Or you cannot say Kamala? What’s going on there?”

Lewandowski skated over the remark and continued to press on with his prepared anti-immigration talking points, which Acosta interrupted and shut down the interview.

“All right, well, Corey, I appreciate you coming on. Maybe we’ll have you back. Thanks for your time,” he said.

Harris has been forced to explain how her name should be pronounced in the past, particularly in the face of Trump’s repeated and deliberate mispronunciation.

In 2016, she issued a light-hearted campaign video on the subject when she first ran for the Senate.

Then this August, her young grandnieces Amara and Leela Ajagu appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention to teach the crowd.

Acosta’s interview with Lewandowski had already been tense prior to its abrupt conclusion.

The anchor had asked the Republican about Vance’s evasive response on the debate stage when asked if he would admit Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe