During a White House meeting with several African leaders, former President Donald Trump drew criticism after praising Liberian President Joseph Boakai for speaking “such good English.” Trump asked Boakai, “Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” and seemed surprised to learn that Boakai was educated in Liberia, where English is the official language.
“I have people at this table can’t speak nearly as well,” Trump added.
Critics quickly denounced the remarks as ignorant and condescending. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) wrote on X, “Asking the President of Liberia where he learned English when it’s literally the official language is peak ignorance.” Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger called Trump “absolutely the dumbest man in govt,” while South African politician Veronica Mente questioned why Boakai didn’t walk out of the meeting altogether.
Though Trump’s press team characterized the comment as a “heartfelt compliment,” others saw it as reinforcing colonial-era stereotypes. Liberia’s official language has been English since its founding in the early 1800s by formerly enslaved Black Americans resettled from the U.S. The country modeled its constitution on the U.S. and declared independence in 1847, making it Africa’s oldest republic.
“I felt insulted because our country is an English-speaking country,” said Archie Tamel Harris, a Liberian youth advocate. “I feel that the U.S. president and people in the West still see Africans as people in villages who are not educated.”
Liberia Responds Diplomatically as Critics Highlight Pattern
Despite online backlash, Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti stated that Boakai took “no offense” and that “many people do not understand the linguistic borders or linguistic demography of the African continent.”
“What President Trump heard distinctly was the American influence on our English,” Nyanti said. “We remain committed to strengthening Liberia‑U.S. ties, built on mutual respect, shared values, and meaningful partnership.”
Trump has a history of controversial remarks about African countries. In 2018, he described Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries,” and earlier this year made false claims about South African farm violence. Despite these incidents, Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior advisor for Africa, defended the former president, saying, “The continent of Africa has never had such a friend in the White House as they do in President Trump.”
Boakai did not publicly respond to the comment but was reported to have expressed support for Trump’s signature platform during the meeting, saying, “Liberia believes in the policy of making America great again.”
