President Trump praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for talking English articulately, seemingly unaware of the truth that English is Liberia’s nationwide language.
“Such good English, that’s beautiful,” Trump stated throughout a Wednesday assembly on the White Home with 5 African leaders. “Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
Boakai chuckled awkwardly as Trump’s reward continued.
“Were you educated?” Trump pressed. When Boakai replied “Yes, sir,” Trump requested his counterpart if he went to high school in Liberia, which the West African chief additionally confirmed.
“Well, that’s very interesting,” Trump stated, once more calling Boakai’s English-speaking expertise “beautiful.”
Trump then joked he had advisors at Wednesday’s assembly who have been much less fluent in English than Boakai.
A reality sheet revealed by the CIA says 20% of Liberians converse English within the predominantly Christian nation settled by freed U.S. slaves within the nineteenth century. Greater than two dozen indigenous languages are additionally spoken within the nation, together with variants of Liberian English.
In response to his official biography web page, Boakai, 80, attended secondary college on the respected School of West Africa earlier than incomes a level from the College of Liberia. He additionally attended Kansas State College.
Trump equally complimented French chief Emmanuel Macron for talking French when the pair met on the White Home in February.
“I have no idea what he said but that is the most elegant, beautiful language,” Trump interjected throughout their dialogue.
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a lunch with African leaders together with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco EmbalÛ, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema within the State Eating Room of the White Home, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Picture/Evan Vucci)
Leaders from Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau have been additionally in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to fulfill with the president, who advised them their international locations had “valuable land, great minerals, and great oil deposits, and wonderful people.”
Throughout his first time period in workplace, Trump referred to African nations as “sh–hole countries” when rejecting a bipartisan immigration deal that may lengthen protections in opposition to deportation for lots of of 1000’s of younger immigrants.
