Nancy Pelosi mocked for wishing Americans a 'happy shwanza' in flub of Kwanzaa
"Happy holidays, merry Christmas, happy Shwanza, happy Hanukkah," Pelosi said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is being mocked on social media for wishing Americans a "happy shwanza," seemingly botching the pronunciation of Kwanzaa, a seven-day holiday after Christmas to celebrate African American culture.
"I yield back the balance of my time and wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year. Happy holidays, merry Christmas, happy Shwanza, happy Hanukkah. Whatever it is you celebrate, be safe," Pelosi, a California Democrat, said Friday at the end of her remarks urging her colleagues to vote for the $1.7 trillion spending bill, which ultimately passed.
"She forgot Festivus," one Twitter user responded to a video of Pelosi's flub with a reference to the made-up holiday on the sitcom "Seinfeld."
"Truth be told, Pelosi’s an idiot with power," conservative talk show host Mark Levin tweeted with a link to a story about Pelosi's gaffe.
"Happy Shwanza to all and to all a good night," conservative strategist Greg Price tweeted with a photo of Pelosi kneeling while wearing an African-style scarf.
Another Twitter wrote a line to a poem similar to "The Night Before Christmas."
"It was the Night before Shwanza and all through the howsh, not a creature wash shober, eshpecially Nanshee the soushe," the user said.
Pelosi, 82, is stepping down as House Speaker next month as Republicans will be sworn into the majority.