'I don’t see it as a lack of respect' - Jimmy Neesham defends Donald Trump’s mispronunciations

US President Donald Trump’s first state visit to India on Monday has not been without controversies. The president, who arrived in Ahmedabad for the first leg of his journey along with his wife Melania, daughter and Senior Advisor Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, also a senior advisor to Trump, went to the newly built Motera Stadium for the ‘Namaste Trump’ event.

There, the American president mentioned the names of some Indian heroes including Swami Vivekananda, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli but struggled to pronounce their names correctly. The president gave up pronouncing the name of Vivekananda midway while he called Tendulkar as “Soo-chin” and Kohli as “Virot Kolee” and it was enough to upset the Indian cricket fans. As they came back hard at Trump.

New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham took them on asking the rationale behind hating somebody when that person is made to pronounce names he never heard of. He also hinted diplomatically that it was not worthy a reason to hate Trump when there are many other reasons to do the same. Trump is one of the most controversial American presidents, thanks to his unconventional ways of administration.

Neesham asked in a tweet why people should hate someone for mispronouncing names they have never heard before when there are “so, so, so many better reasons” to do it.

Why hate someone for the pronunciation of names they’ve never heard before when there are so, so, so many better reasons to hate them?

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) February 25, 2020

Agreed. Total lack of respect to not learn their names if you're going to mention them. Especially given the godlike status they have in India.
Pretty bloody funny though.😄🤦‍♂️

— Ian (@reinVENTTWITer) February 25, 2020

Um, he can’t remember which US states have a southern border. I don’t see it as a lack of respect… https://t.co/E7NPdXPPfC

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) February 25, 2020

James Neesham played in India ODIs but without much success

The Indian fans were though not impressed with the 29-year-old who has two hundreds and one five-wicket haul in international cricket. Neesham last played for the Kiwis in the three-ODI series against India at home although did not have any memorable outing either with the bat or ball. The left-hander, however, scored a fifty in his last competitive game which was for Wellington against Canterbury at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora in Plunket Shield.

Meanwhile, New Zealand thrashed India by 10 wickets in the first Test in Wellington to pick their second win of the ICC Test Championship. It was India’s first defeat in the championship after seven consecutive wins. The second Test starts from the 29th of February.