Donald Trump is famous for giving people nicknames, and while many of them are meant to be derogatory, he has a history of creating catchy monikers for his political adversaries. His nicknames often serve as a way to belittle or mock, such as calling Hillary Clinton “Crooked Hillary,” Joe Biden “Sleepy Joe,” and Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas.” But occasionally, he doles out a nickname that, while still patronizing, is meant as a compliment—like the one he gave to Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake.
Kari Lake, a 55-year-old former television news anchor and Republican nominee for Arizona’s 2024 Senate election, has gained attention for her staunch political views, especially on immigration. At a rally in Tucson, Arizona, Trump gave her the nickname “Border Kari Lake,” a nod to her tough stance on border security. He explained, “She’s tough on the border, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to call her Border Kari Lake. From now on, it’s Border Kari Lake. She’s a fantastic person, I’ve known her a long time, I was one of the early people that endorsed her, and I’ll tell you, she is tough, tough, tough on the border.”
As expected, the nickname didn’t exactly sound like a stroke of genius, especially considering how it was delivered. With three repetitions of “tough,” Trump aimed to emphasize her position on border control, but it came off as overly simplistic and, frankly, ridiculous. Still, Trump seemed proud of his nickname, repeating it during his speech and even hinting that once he gives someone a “take,” it sticks.
When Lake heard the nickname, she was reportedly seated in the front row at the rally, and her reaction was one of enthusiasm, pumping her fist in the air as if she had just received a great honor. In the context of the rally, it seemed like a lighthearted moment, but one has to wonder how it must have felt for Lake to be publicly dubbed with such a blatantly cheesy nickname. Of course, it didn’t help her campaign much, as she lost to Democrat Ruben Gallego, but perhaps she’ll forever be remembered as “Border Kari Lake.”