Outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is facing ridicule on social media after she botched the name of an African American holiday during remarks following the passage of the omnibus spending bill.
The 82-year-old California Democrat, who resigned from House leadership after Democrats lost control of the chamber in the November midterm elections, was giving what is expected to be her last speech as speaker when she decided to wish a “happy shwanza” to those who celebrate Kwanzaa.
“I yield back the balance of my time and wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year,” Pelosi said. “Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy Shwanza. Happy Hanukkah.”
As Tipsy Nancy Pelosi’s last House speech as Speaker, she wants to wish you and yours a "Happy Shwanza!”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 23, 2022
Pelosi faced backlash on social media for flubbing the name of the holiday, which was established in 1966 and is celebrated by many African Americans. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, ending with a communal feast known as Karamu.
The holiday was invented by African American civil rights activist Maulana Karenga, an African American whose birth name was Ronald McKinley Everett. Karenga later served prison time for imprisoning and torturing two women he claimed were plotting against him.
Pelosi’s mistake sparked widespread mockery on Twitter.
Conservative pundit, writer, and editor Carmine Sabia pointed out that Pelosi had previously claimed that her family celebrated Kwanzaa, yet now she proved she can’t even pronounce the holiday’s name.
“Pelosi mispronounced Kwanza as Shwanza, which is interesting because in 2019 she said her family of Whitey Whiteness celebrated the fake holiday. ‘In our House, we celebrate them all: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year’s.’ The family in this photo celebrates Kwanza,” he wrote.
Pelosi mispronounced Kwanza as Shwanza, which is interesting because in 2019 she said her family of Whitey Whiteness celebrated the fake holiday.
"In our House, we celebrate them all: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year's."
The family in this photo celebrates Kwanza. pic.twitter.com/BDbWJxEv4M
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) December 24, 2022
“Nancy Pelosi Wishes Everyone a ‘Happy Shwanza’ Absolutely embarrassing,” responded Daniel Wisniewski.
“WTF is Shwanza?” asked popular Twitter account Clown World.
“Truth be told, Pelosi’s an idiot with power,” said conservative radio host Mark Levin.
Another Twitter user asserted that “Pelosi has been hitting the bottle again,” pushing the common assertion that the outgoing House Speaker has a drinking problem.
“I say that too after 4 Martinis,” wrote another Twitter user.
