--- title: Betsy DeVos Responds to Donald Trump’s 'Pocahontas' Comment description: Betsy DeVos subtly chided President Trump for calling Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" during a ceremony honoring Native American Code Talkers canonical: https://time.com/5042934/betsy-devos-donald-trump-warren-pocahontas/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-11-30T16:18:30.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T08:33:21.700Z article:section: Politics og:title: Betsy DeVos on Trump’s 'Pocahontas' Comment: Everyone Should Think Before Speaking og:description: "We can all do well to reflect on the things we say before we say them" og:url: https://time.com/5042934/betsy-devos-donald-trump-warren-pocahontas/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8fc0b52fae26f8e/6988f324e76ad28bbc6301f4/betsy-devos-donald-trump-pocahontas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: President Trump Hosts NCAA National Championship Teams To The White House og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Betsy DeVos on Trump’s 'Pocahontas' Comment: Everyone Should Think Before Speaking twitter:description: "We can all do well to reflect on the things we say before we say them" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8fc0b52fae26f8e/6988f324e76ad28bbc6301f4/betsy-devos-donald-trump-pocahontas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Betsy DeVos on Trump’s 'Pocahontas' Comment: Everyone Should Think Before Speaking > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=b5f15dfb-8b08-4611-a71d-3f260292fa7f&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: President Trump Calls Elizabeth Warren 'Pocahontas' at Event Honoring Native American Veterans [Watch (HLS stream): President Trump Calls Elizabeth Warren 'Pocahontas' at Event Honoring Native American Veterans](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0GKfozOg.m3u8) (0:36)  _Published 2017-11-27. President Donald Trump referred to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas” during a White House event Monday honoring Native American code talkers who served in World War II._  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Nov 30, 2017 4:18 PM UTC  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Nov 30, 2017 4:18 PM UTC Education Secretary Betsy DeVos subtly chided [President Trump](http://time.com/5038410/donald-trump-elizabeth-warren-pocahontas-2/) on Wednesday for calling [Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren](http://time.com/5038848/donald-trump-elizabeth-warren-response-pocahontas/) “Pocahontas” during a ceremony honoring [Native American Code Talkers](http://time.com/5038937/navajo-code-talkers-slam-trump-pocahontas-slur/) this week. “You were here long before any of us were here,” Trump told the World War II veterans on Monday, before referencing Warren, who has said she has Native American heritage. “Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.” During a visit to a Tennessee high school on Wednesday, DeVos was asked by reporters whether Trump can be considered a good role model for children after his comment. “I think the president continues to lead in an important direction in our country,” DeVos said, [according to the _Tennessean_](http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2017/11/29/betsy-devos-marks-first-visit-middle-tennessee-trip-rutherford-county-schools/901900001/). “And I think that we can all do well to reflect on the things we say before we say them.” Warren responded to Trump’s remark earlier in the week by calling it “[a disgusting low.](http://time.com/5038848/donald-trump-elizabeth-warren-response-pocahontas/)” [Family members](http://time.com/5038937/navajo-code-talkers-slam-trump-pocahontas-slur/) of the Navajo war veterans said it was “uncalled for,” and the Navajo Nation described it as an example of “cultural insensitivity.” Asked on Monday about criticism that Trump’s comment was a racial slur, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “I think that’s a ridiculous response.” “I don’t think that it is, and I don’t think that was — certainly not the President’s intent,” she said. ## Transcript You're very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here. Although, we have a representative in Congress who, they say, was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas, but you know what? I like you because you are special. 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