US President Donald Trump shared a light-hearted moment with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar when he joked about the similarity between her first name and that of former US Vice President Kamala Harris.During the 2026 Summit of the Americas in Florida on Saturday, Trump acknowledged the presence of regional leaders at the rally in Doral, Florida, but paused when he mentioned Persad-Bissessar’s name.“Your name is very similar to our first name, but fortunately it is pronounced differently,” Trump said. “This is Kamla, unlike Kamala. I like Kamla more, in many ways. And I have to say thank you very much, but I have to be careful with that first name.”
“I don’t want to mix it up because that could ruin your entire reputation.”
Trump, who elicited laughter from the audience, went on to recount a short conversation with the leader of Trinidad and Tobago about the pronunciation of her name.“I said that was the same pronunciation. She said, ‘No, sir, it’s a little different.'” He said, “It’s kaam-la instead of kaam,” emphasizing the distinction.He added, “We don’t like Cam,” in a clear reference to Harris, who defeated him in the 2025 US presidential elections.
The exchange took place during the 2026 Summit of the Americas, which this year was described as the “Shield of the Americas” summit.Later, Trump handed a pen to Persad-Bissessar after signing a declaration of commitment to combating gang criminal activity.The meeting brings together leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to discuss regional security, immigration and strategies aimed at reducing the influence of rival global powers in the United States.