How Hawaiians ‘welcomed Trump to Kenya’
US President Donald Trump on Friday arrived in Hawaii to a cold reception from protesters carrying placards that read ‘Welcome to Kenya’.
Making light of the President’s past enthusiasm for the so-called “birtherism” conspiracy that targeted his predecessor Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, demonstrators also held signs that read “Aloha means goodbye” and “Immigration gave me my family”.
President Trump infamously spearheaded the theory that Obama was not born in Hawaii – but in Africa. Trump is also on record for suggesting that Obama’s birth certificate was a fraud.
An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama‘s birth certificate is a fraud.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
Obama, who served as the 44th President of the United States of America, was born in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii and went on to spend a considerable time of his childhood there.
Obama’s links to Kenya cannot, however be wished away. The 56 year old was born to a Kenyan father.
State congressman Kaniela Ing told Hawaii News Now: “Hawaii is the most diverse state in the nation, and just a few days ago Trump literally said, ‘Diversity sounds like a good thing, but it is not a good thing.’ That statement alone undermines the values that make Hawaii, Hawaii.”
The protester called their rally “Hawaii 3, Trump 0”, referencing the number of times courts in the state have blocked the President’s attempts to institute a ban on travel from majority-Muslim countries.
Mr Trump was in Hawaii on Friday for a briefing by US Pacific Command military leaders on North Korea and other issues, ahead of his tour of Asia.
Here are some of the reactions after the protest:
Trump Protest at the State Capitol. There were like three pro-trump people lol #hawaiij20 #hawaii pic.twitter.com/NpmtOzX2jE
— Kate Ozawa (@AlohaKatie) November 4, 2017
“Welcome to Kenya!” A growing crowd protests Trump by Honolulu state capitol during his visit to Honolulu pic.twitter.com/KnTeFJSvf2
— Jaweed Kaleem ? (@jaweedkaleem) November 4, 2017
referring to Trump pushing the idea for many years that Obama was not born in the U.S. but elsewhere, such as Kenya (where his dad was from)
— Jaweed Kaleem ? (@jaweedkaleem) November 5, 2017
— T’Pring Soldier (@soldier19985) November 4, 2017
Have to hand it to Hawaii for expertly humiliating @realDonaldTrump ?? Tell him next time he visits to take a car ? pic.twitter.com/lMv9PhAQeQ
— Impeach45!? (@ReelNewzNow) November 4, 2017
Welcome to Kenya! Hawaii, it’s one of my favorite places in the world for a reason! ALOHA pic.twitter.com/atPsE8YQCd
— dogsrule (@Tracydsmith619) November 5, 2017
this man cant dare visit kenya we define #resist by actions
— brian mcharo (@BrianMcharo) November 4, 2017