Tribal leader offended by Trump's "Pocahontas" comment

Michael Marchand, chairman for the Colville Confederated Tribes, referred to President Donald Trump’s recent “Pocahontas” comment as “racist and insensitive.”

In a Nov. 28 press release, Marchand expressed disappointment in Trump’s remarks at a Nov. 27 event honoring World War II Navajo Code Talkers. Trump used the occasion to attack his political opponent, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, by referring to her as “Pocahontas.”

“Unfortunately we have become accustomed to the president’s divisive and disrespectful speech,” Marchand said. “But Mr. Trump’s remarks, particularly at this White House meeting and in the presence of these Native American war heroes, cannot go unchallenged.”

The Code Talkers are well known for their enormous contribution to the U.S. war effort in the Pacific. They were recruited in the early 1940s by the Marines to develop a code based upon their Navajo language; this was used to transmit critical secret messages to the Pacific Theater. For decades it remained unbroken.

“It is not news that Native Americans have been offended by the use of ‘Pocahontas’— the name of an historic Indian woman — to deride Sen. Warren,” Marchand said. “It was particularly tactless and insulting at the Code Talker ceremony. These remarks were both inappropriate and beneath the dignity of the office he holds.”

“We hope the President will stop using this insensitive and racist tactic,” Marchand said. “The name of a native woman, significant in history, should never be used as a political punch line.”

At the event, Trump said to the Native American WWII veterans, “I just want to thank you because you are very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here. Although, we have a representative in Congress who has been here a long time ... longer than you — they call her Pocahontas!”

Sen. Warren responded to the comment, saying to MSNBC, “It is deeply unfortunate that the President of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur.”