New Delhi: US presidential elections are around the corner and both Conservatives and Democrats are not leaving any stone unturned to promote their respective candidates.
In one such attempt, TV commentator and presenter Tomi Lahren shared a video on Twitter thanking the Indian-American community for their support to President Donald Trump. In her praise for Trump, she called him “wise like an ‘ullu'”, using the Hindi word for ‘owl’ in a bid to connect with the people of Indian origin.
The word, which in Hindi means anything but wise, soon led to a laugh riot on social media.
In the video, Lahren expressed her gratitude towards the Indian community in the US for supporting Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda.
“Trump 2020 is all about keeping America great, because President Trump is wise like an owl, or as you say in Hindi, wise like an ullu,” Lahren said.
My fellow Indians, Tomi Lahren thanks you for your support for Trump and his MAGA agenda.
If you’re wise, you’ll watch until the end ? #IndiansForTrump #MAGA2020 #maga #RNC2020 #rnc #Modi ?? pic.twitter.com/06MjXSL7lK
— Ali Asghar (@abediaa) August 24, 2020
While the owl is considered a wise bird in the West, it is associated with foolishness in parts of India. The word ullu is often used as a slang in Hindi and Punjabi to refer to someone as foolish.
Lahren’s video is being widely shared on social media, and the word ‘ullu’ is trending on Twitter.
Here are some of the hilarious reactions to the video:
Can't stop laughing! OMG
(For those that don't know, calling someone an "owl" (ullu उल्लू) is a rather strong insult in Hindi. Normally wouldn't share @TomiLahren but this was too funny.)
Dear Tomi: You said it perfectly, I've never agreed with you more. https://t.co/GvS3UEeV5j
— Hassan Ahmad (@HMAesq) August 25, 2020
“President Trump is wise like an ullu” ? haan ji https://t.co/XY0JsTs8lj
— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) August 25, 2020
“Donald Trump is wise as an ullu”
This is why typing words into google translate doesn’t always work… https://t.co/Jgl2msYW2P
— Vivek Shivaram (@vivek_shivaram) August 25, 2020
To be fair my grandmother always loved owls and didn’t appreciate that they’re so disrespected in our culture… but even she would wholeheartedly agree with Tomi that Donald Trump is an ullu (ka patha). https://t.co/8xI41ML8wb
— Sarah Khan (@BySarahKhan) August 25, 2020
How is this even real? She is right, he is wise like a ’ullu’. The kind we celebrate on April 1st.
— Riya (@MsRiyaWrites) August 25, 2020
Hey @TomiLahren it's not just @realDonaldTrump who is an "ullu". His blind supporters are too. That's why America is where it is today???
— Nishant Pant (@nishantpant_in) August 25, 2020
Ha ha ! Cross cultural mistake. An “Ullu” out here means an idiot, not the western “wise like an owl”. Why? Don’t know. https://t.co/qaIDfrezWR
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) August 25, 2020
Don't make America "ullu" again ! ? https://t.co/3kSL1c0qem
— Aishe (ঐশী) (@aishe_ghosh) August 25, 2020
Also read: Making America comfortable again — Why Trump can win in November