Donald Trump, in a speech where he said “yo-Semites” when he meant to say “Yosemite’s.” Image by Screenshot from Twitter

By PJ Grisar August 4, 2020

In an August 4 speech at the White House, President Trump was invoking the beauty of our national parks when he stumbled on the words “Yosemite’s towering sequoias.” He said “yo-Semites,” to which we say: “Hi!”

Jewish Twitter, naturally, had a field day.

In honor of this momentous occasion of national visibility — and our previously unknown ownership of some mighty impressive arbors — we have produced a novelty rap to mark the occasion, which, on the nakhes-o-meter far surpasses even Jonathan Swan’s impressive interview with the president last night. Without further ado, the “Yo Semites Rap.”

(Verse to the tune of this Ronald Reagan rap)

Yo, Semites, have you heard the news?
The Pres gave us a mention — but he didn’t mean Jews.
There at a White House event today
Trump said some words he didn’t mean to say_

Honoring Yosemite’s mighty sequoias
He said “Yo-Semites,” and now for the chorus:

(Chorus and bridge to the tune of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”)

We’ve been spending most of our lives living like yo-Semites
Wearing the t-shirt right living like yo-Semites
Those national parks are tight when you’re a yo-Semite

Tell me why is he so blind to see
That that was an apostrophe?
Tell me are we so blind to see
That Trump just meant to praise those trees?
Tell me is this a Jewish victory?
We’ll take the win with dignity.

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture reporter. He can be reached at Grisar@Forward.com.

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