You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?

"You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" is arhetorical questionraised by United States Vice PresidentKamala Harris, quoting an expression from her childhood, at a May 2023White Houseceremony.
While footage from her speech attracted attention as anInternet memein early 2024, the quote began circulating more widely amidst speculation that PresidentJoe Bidenwould end his re-election campaign following apoor debate performance in June. Use of "coconut tree" memes referring to Harris expanded widely in July alongside the launch ofher 2024 presidential campaign.
Harris and Secretary of EducationMiguel Cardonaattended a May 10, 2023,swearing-inceremony for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics (aHispanic and Latinoeducation initiative)in theIndian Treaty Roomof theEisenhower Executive Office Building. Addressing the new commissioners, Harris advised that work to achieveeducational equityrequires not only mustering financial resources but also addressing the cultural context that isolates students from their communities. Referring to a saying  her late motherShyamala Gopalanused when Harris was a child, she said:
Footage from the speech attracted attention beginning February 2024. Initial social media activity about the remarks, mostly byRepublicans, mocked them as incomprehensible or ludicrous.As speculation about Harris replacing Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket intensified in June 2024, the video was shared largely by her supporters, including members of the #KHiveonline community. The term "coconut-pilled", parodying theredpilledmen's rightsphenomenon, indicated support for a Harris candidacy among Democratic operatives and voters.It began circulating more widely in June, after apoorly received debate performanceby President Biden led to speculation that he might withdraw from his re-election campaign.
In the days leading up to and after Biden's July 21 announcement that he would not seek re-election, supporters of Harris created memes and videos referencing coconuts and coconut trees as a sign of support for her bid for the nomination.Coconuts and coconut trees have become integrated in a larger series of memes celebrating Harris's candidacy, including her once-professed love ofVenn diagrams, theCharli XCXalbumBrat, and Harris's often-employed phrase "what can be, unburdened by what has been."In these memes, to "fall out of a coconut tree" typically means that one lacks awareness of one's surroundings, akin to the phrase "living under a rock".
The New York Timesreported that enthusiasm for Harris and the coconut tree meme was driving aWashington-area surge in demand forpiña coladas.
Biden'sdecision to drop out of the raceand his subsequent endorsement of Harris as theparty nomineeled to intensified use of the "coconut tree"memein reference to Harris, including by state and federal officials.Minutes after Biden's announcement,Colorado governorJared Polistweeted emoji of a coconut, palm tree and American flag.Later that evening,HawaiiSenatorBrian Schatzposted a picture of himself climbing a coconut tree along with a message of support.On July 22, afterIllinois GovernorJB Pritzkerendorsed Harris, he responded to journalists speculating about his own presidential ambitions by tweeting, "You think I just fell out of a coconut tree?"
When theBiden campaignTwitter account transitioned to "Kamala HQ" on July 21, the updated profile bio simply read "Providing context", a reference to the remarks.
Commentators noted that use of the coconut tree meme to depict Harris asditzymay be grounded insexismor in racist mockery of herIndianandJamaicanheritage, given the tropical symbolism of the coconut tree.But as supporters began championing the video,Washington PostcolumnistMonica Hesseidentified that it could aid depictions of the candidate as youthful andfeminine, in contrast both to Biden and president-electDonald Trump.
Some Democratic strategists also noted that the coconut tree meme and others were driving augmented enthusiasm for Harris among members ofGeneration Z, which could potentially translate into an increase in youthvoter turnout.Media scholar David Karpf toldBusiness Insiderthat the Harris campaign's encouragement of internet memes could foster an organic sense ofgrassrootsenthusiasm akin to reception of theObama 2008 campaign.Vox's Christian Paz speculated that leaning into a goofy attitude could help Harris channel a "joyful warrior" ethos that combats sexist and racist stereotypes.
According toDigital Cultures LabfounderRamesh Srinivasan, Harris' mother, Gopalan, was born in the state ofTamil Nadu, where coconut trees are an important source of food andcooking oil. Harris, Srinivasan told theLos Angeles Times, is "fully coconut".