On October 21, 2025, the White House was aglow with the vibrant colors and festive spirit of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. But amid the ceremonial lamp-lighting and heartfelt speeches, it was US President Donald Trump’s characteristic struggle with names that stole the show. The annual Diwali celebration, held in the Oval Office, brought together a constellation of Indian-American leaders, diplomats, and business titans. Yet, it was President Trump’s tongue-twisting moments—both familiar and new—that became the evening’s most talked-about feature.
As the event commenced, Trump extended Diwali greetings to the assembled guests, initially stumbling over the very word “Diwali” before correcting himself and moving forward with his remarks. According to The Hindu, the president’s missteps didn’t end there. During the ceremonial lamp-lighting, he turned to Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra and addressed him as “Vinay Kwatruth.” Realizing his blunder, Trump chuckled, “We’re greatly honored to be joined by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatruth. It's very nice. Well, I wasn't too far off. Thank you very much.” The room erupted in applause, with many appreciating the president’s lighthearted acknowledgment of the slip.
As reported by ANI, the mispronunciation quickly became the evening’s talking point, even overshadowing some of the formalities. Still, Trump pressed on, lauding the contributions of Indian-American leaders and India’s growing influence on the world stage. “We are proud of the incredible Indian-American CEOs, from Adobe to Micron Technology, who are leading some of the world’s top companies,” he said, underscoring the community’s role in America’s ongoing success story.
The guest list was a testament to the close ties between the two nations. In attendance were Ambassador Vinay Kwatra himself, US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and several prominent Indian-origin business figures. Trump took a moment to congratulate Sergio Gor, pronouncing his name correctly and joking, “It’s a great honor to have you as a new ambassador to India. This is a nice, easy name. Sergio Gor. Congratulations, Sergio. You're going to do a fantastic job.”
But as the evening wore on, the president’s penchant for tripping over names persisted. He referred to Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen as “Shanta Nu Narayan” and called Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra “Sanjay Marotta.” On the other hand, he managed to pronounce the names of IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora correctly, prompting a mix of relief and amusement among the guests. Trump quipped, “And Adobe is big stuff. And that's Shanta Nu Narayan. Thank you very much,” and later, “Thank you very much. CEO of Micron Technology, Sanjay Marotta. Sanjay, nice to see you again.”
These moments are hardly new for the president. As India Today notes, Trump has a long history of mispronouncing names—sometimes, by his own admission, on purpose. Before assuming office, he once said, “They say, 'Sir, you made a mistake.' I said, 'No, I didn't.'” His struggles have included calling former Vice President Kamala Harris “Kamabla,” and, during a high-profile visit to India in February 2020, he mispronounced “chaiwala” as “chee-wallah” when referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s humble beginnings. That same trip saw him refer to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as “Suuchin Tendulsar” and Virat Kohli as “Virat Kholi.” When he attempted to quote Swami Vivekananda, he stumbled over the name, saying: “As the greatest religious teacher Swami Vive…Kamun…nund once said…” before trailing off and laughing with the crowd.
Last month, Trump’s difficulties extended beyond names to pharmaceuticals. While discussing an unproven link between acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) and autism, he fumbled: “Effective immediately, the FDA will be notifying physicians that the use of aceta— well, let's see how we say that… Acetam — enophin. Acetaminophen. Is that OK? Which is basically commonly known as Tylenol.” According to The Indian Express, the president’s unique speaking style has become a defining feature of his public persona.
Trump has also been candid about his mispronunciations of foreign place names. He admitted to having long called Qatar “Cut-R” before realizing the proper pronunciation: “Nobody’s ever told me right or wrong. I always like to say ‘Cut-R.’ But it’s Qatar. We'll probably stop at UAE and Qatar — as I used to call it 'Cut-R' — nobody has ever told me right or wrong. I always like to say 'Cut-R.' But it's Qatar.” In 2016, during a foreign policy speech, he pronounced Tanzania as “Tan-ZAY-nee-uh,” diverging from the standard “Tan-zuh-NEE-uh,” which prompted the then White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest to remark, “Apparently the phonetics are not included on the teleprompter.”
Despite these recurring gaffes, Trump is often quick to recover, using humor to defuse any awkwardness. At the Diwali event, he lit a diya and described Diwali as “a symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness.” He elaborated, “It’s knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. The glow of the diya reminds us to seek wisdom, work hard, and be thankful for our blessings.” He also extended warm greetings to the people of India, referring to Prime Minister Modi as “a great person” and expressing admiration for “the people of India.”
Ambassador Kwatra, for his part, took the moment in stride. He thanked Trump for hosting the celebration and for “opening the doors of the White House to the festival of lights.” In his remarks, Kwatra said, “You are showcasing the strength of diversity through this celebration. On behalf of Prime Minister Modi and the Indian community in the US, I extend Diwali greetings and wish that the light of Diwali continues to shine on your success and on the strength of India.”
While some critics view Trump’s repeated mispronunciations as a sign of carelessness, others see them as a reflection of his unvarnished speaking style—one that’s unapologetically his own. Supporters often point out his willingness to poke fun at himself, turning potential faux pas into moments of levity. In the context of the Diwali celebration, the president’s gaffes seemed to bring a sense of camaraderie to the gathering, with laughter and applause punctuating the formalities.
The Diwali party at the White House was, in many ways, a microcosm of the US-India relationship: vibrant, occasionally awkward, but ultimately grounded in mutual respect and shared celebration. As the evening drew to a close, the glow of the diya—and the good-natured laughter—lingered, a reminder that sometimes, it’s the unscripted moments that shine brightest.
