Page "Ich bin ein Berliner" Paragraph 21

There is a misconception that Kennedy made a risible error by saying Ich bin ein Berliner ( emphasis added ): the claim is made that Kennedy referred to himself not as a " citizen of Berlin " but as a " jelly doughnut ", known in parts of Germany as a " Berliner ".

Kennedy should, supposedly, have said Ich bin Berliner to mean " I am a person from Berlin ", and so adding the indefinite article ein to his statement implied he was a non-human Berliner, thus, " I am a jelly doughnut ".

However, while the indefinite article ein is omitted when speaking of an individual's profession or residence, it is still necessary when speaking in a figurative sense as Kennedy did.

Since the President was not literally from Berlin but only declaring his solidarity with its citizens, " Ich bin ein Berliner " was correct.