You can see the gears turning in his head here as he reaches for an ad lib: “What do I know about Native Americans?” They were here first, some of them run casinos now, and, oh right, Elizabeth Warren once claimed minority status as a law professor because she thought she was 1/32nd Cherokee, earning her the nickname “Fauxcahontas” among grassroots Republicans. (Not Pocahontas, as Trump invariably says when taunting her.)

In the end, he went with the facts that he had on hand. If you elect Archie Bunker president, you’ve got to expect a certain number of Archie Bunker moments.

Look on the bright side. At least he didn’t mention the casinos, which would have been a natural segue for him given his own background. No war whoops or references to “firewater” or claims that he’s become a big Redskins fan since moving to D.C. either. All things considered, it could have been much worse.

Here’s Trump at the ceremony — which was staged, surreally, right beneath the portrait of the president who signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 — followed by Elizabeth Warren converting the easy lay-up. Why didn’t John Kelly just screen “Windtalkers” for POTUS before the event to drive home to him the gravity of the sacrifice made by Navajo servicemen during World War II? Was he afraid Trump would start looking around for Nicolas Cage in the audience?

Trump comments on Elizabeth Warren's heritage at event honoring Native American code talkers:

"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." https://t.co/lKSNecEXfu

— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 27, 2017

WATCH: Elizabeth Warren responds to Trump's "Pocahontas" remark on @MSNBC:

"It is deeply unfortunate that the President of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur." pic.twitter.com/au1QntxDzR

— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 27, 2017