Trump Commends Liberian Leader's English—In Country Where English Is Already Official Language

On Wednesday, as Donald Trump was reveling in the plaudits of a group of African leaders, the Liberian president seized the microphone.

"Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States, and we believe in your policy of making America great again," President Joseph Boakai stated in English during a White House meeting before appealing for American investment in his country.  "We just want to thank you so much for this opportunity."

Trump, apparently impressed, asked Boakai where he learned his linguistic talents.

"Such good English, such beautiful …"  Trump stated.  "Where did you learn how to talk so beautifully?  "Where were you educated?"

Boakai appeared to chuckle.  English is the official language of Liberia. 

"In Liberia?"  Trump inquired.  "Yes, sir," Boakai replied.

"That's very interesting, that's beautiful English," declared Donald Trump.  "I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well."

Liberia was formed in 1822 as a colony for free Black Americans, the invention of white Americans seeking to address a perceived problem: the future of Black people in the United States after slavery was abolished.  Although English is the official language of Liberia, a variety of Indigenous languages are also spoken there. 

On Wednesday, Trump received officials from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House, telling them that the US is altering its approach to the continent from charity to trade and that the US is a better partner for Africa than China.  Many of the meeting's leaders used interpreters to speak in their native languages.

Trump stated that his administration was devoted to developing relations in Africa, where he planned to travel at some point. 

"We're shifting from aid to trade," he remarked at the start of a White House meeting.  "Africa has tremendous economic potential, as do few other places.  In many ways, over time, this will be considerably more successful, sustainable, and useful than anything else we can accomplish together."

African leaders, in turn, praised the US president for brokering global peace treaties and stated their desire for him to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

"We are not poor nations.  We are resource-rich countries.  But we need partners to help us develop those resources," said Gabon's president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.  "You're welcome to come and invest. Otherwise, other countries may go instead of you.