diff --git a/server/routes/shared_api/autocomplete/helpers.py b/server/routes/shared_api/autocomplete/helpers.py
index 6231da1245..668da7f2b6 100644
--- a/server/routes/shared_api/autocomplete/helpers.py
+++ b/server/routes/shared_api/autocomplete/helpers.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
     'place_dcid': 'asia'
 }] + TWO_WORD_CUSTOM_PLACES
 SKIP_AUTOCOMPLETE_TRIGGER = [
-    "tell", "me", "show", "about", "which", "what", "when", "how"
+    "tell", "me", "show", "about", "which", "what", "when", "how", "the"
 ]
 
 # Exceptions for the 3 letter trigger rule. These queries can trigger on only two letters.
diff --git a/static/js/components/nl_search_bar/auto_complete_suggestions.tsx b/static/js/components/nl_search_bar/auto_complete_suggestions.tsx
index 2b0725e0c3..73b55b2715 100644
--- a/static/js/components/nl_search_bar/auto_complete_suggestions.tsx
+++ b/static/js/components/nl_search_bar/auto_complete_suggestions.tsx
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export function AutoCompleteSuggestions(
   const [triggered, setTriggered] = useState(false);
 
   function getIcon(query: string, matched_query: string): string {
-    if (query == matched_query) {
+    if (query.trim() == matched_query.trim()) {
       return "location_on";
     }
     return "search";