Former President Donald Trump mispronounced his daughter-in-law Lara Trump’s name during a press conference in North Carolina on Monday.
For the former president, the apparent slip comes after growing questions over his cognitive state. During a town hall event on Sunday, Trump mispronounced anchor Sage Steele’s name, calling her “Paige”, while his pause of another event last week to play music has also raised questions over his abilities. Harris’ campaign has been increasing its attacks on Trump by highlighting these incidents on its social media channels.
The Republican presidential candidate spoke alongside those clearing up after Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the swing state in September.
At one point, Trump pronounced Lara’s name as “Lah-ra”, but at another as “Lor-rah”, as in Laura, after being asked if he was confident of winning the state.
“I think we’re going to do good, and we have Lara,” Trump said. “So, Laura is a fantastic person, an unbelievably smart person who works with and knows everybody here and she loves this state.”
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As the wife of his son Eric and the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, Trump has spent much time with his daughter-in-law, who he said Monday was working elsewhere in North Carolina.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment via email Monday afternoon.
Monday’s slip is not the first time there has been confusion over how to pronounce Lara Trump’s name, however.
Who is Lara Trump?
After her appointment as co-chair of the RNC, the chair of the Contra Costa County Republican Party questioned the pronunciation as California Republicans met with her in May. Some told the Washington Post at the time that they knew little about her.
Lara has been involved in her father-in-law’s political career since the 2016 election, alongside her husband and his brother, Donald Trump Jr. In 2022, she was linked with a potential U.S. Senate campaign for a seat in North Carolina, but later endorsed eventual winner Ted Budd.
The former president then endorsed her for the RNC role in February 2024 and she was elected to the position the following month.
Over the 2024 election campaign, Lara has frequently spoken in defense of Trump, most recently saying he was joking around when he called Vice President Kamala Harris mentally incompetent, while also using her social media platforms to promote the GOP’s plans and campaigning.
Lara has also been vocal in her attacks on Democrats and those who support the party. In an episode of The Right View with Lara Trump in April, she responded to a question as to whether she was stupid.
“What is stupid is voting for a party that hates you and hates this country. What’s stupid is voting for a party that ultimately wants the destruction of America and I assume you are one of those people. Nothing stupid over here. I’ve actually done my research, I actually have the real information, I am actually not influenced by emotion but cold, hard facts,” she said.
