Sen. John Kennedy mocked Kamala Harris on Fox News and introduced a new nickname, “Lulu Lenins,” for democratic socialists.
Sen. John Kennedy took aim at Kamala Harris this week with a new political nickname that quickly caught fire online, using a Fox News appearance to mock the former vice president and dismiss her as “no longer relevant” after her 2024 defeat to President Trump.
Speaking with Sean Hannity on Monday night, the Louisiana Republican argued that Harris had already had her chance on the national stage. “No disrespect, but Vice President Harris is no longer relevant. She had her shot and she missed,” Kennedy said, framing her latest political moves as an attempt to regain momentum after a failed presidential run. He then turned his attention to Harris’ efforts to reconnect with the party’s left wing, saying she could “cozy up to the ‘Lulu Lenins’ all she wants to.”
The phrase was Kennedy’s new nickname for democratic socialists, a mashup of the pricey athletic wear brand Lululemon and Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, who founded the communist Soviet Union. The label was clearly designed to be memorable, and it landed that way almost immediately. Kennedy’s line spread rapidly across social media, where users repeated it, joked about it, and celebrated the senator’s latest attempt at biting political humor.
Harris has said she is “thinking about” a 2028 presidential bid, even as she has been quietly building ties with figures associated with the Democratic Party’s more progressive wing. Among those contacts is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a rising socialist star whose prominence has helped sharpen the broader debate inside the party over how far left its future should move. Kennedy’s criticism was aimed not only at Harris personally, but also at that political lane and at her apparent effort to strengthen support among activists and left-leaning voters.
“Sen. John Kennedy mocked Kamala Harris on Fox News and introduced a new nickname, “Lulu Lenins,” for democratic socialists.”
The response online reflected how fast a line from a cable-news interview can become a political meme. Some users praised Kennedy’s wording for its punchiness and originality, while others simply leaned into the joke. One person on X said that whoever wrote “Lulu Lenin” into the senator’s talking points deserved a Pulitzer. Another called the phrase a fresh Kennedy “banger,” and even a self-described member of the Democratic Socialists of America joined in by calling themselves a “Proud Lulu Lenin.”
Kennedy’s attack on Harris also fits a broader pattern in his public style. The senator has repeatedly used colorful, sometimes over-the-top language to skewer socialism and the political left. In a Fox News interview in July, he compared countries that tried and failed with socialism to a body-part reference that drew attention for its bluntness. In February, he targeted anti-ICE protesters in another network appearance with a remark that suggested they had an unsettling, violent edge. He later defended that comment on X by saying people were allowed to be “deeply weird” but not violent.
For Democrats, Harris’ outreach to the socialist left highlights an ongoing question about the party’s direction after its 2024 defeat. For Republicans, Kennedy’s mockery offers a concise way to characterize that internal debate in language that is easy to repeat and hard to ignore. With the next presidential race already beginning to take shape, the exchange underscores how early efforts at positioning can quickly become part of the broader political conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What nickname did John Kennedy use for democratic socialists?
He called them “Lulu Lenins,” blending Lululemon with Vladimir Lenin.
What did Kennedy say about Kamala Harris?
He called her “no longer relevant” and said she had her shot and missed.
Why was Harris part of the exchange?
Kennedy was mocking her outreach to the party’s left wing as she considers a possible 2028 run.
What happened after Kennedy made the comment?
The nickname went viral online, with users on X repeating it and reacting to the joke.
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