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2w ago

Trump’s Praise of Liberian President’s English Draws Criticism

White House and Liberian officials have defended it as a heartfelt nod to Liberia’s American-influenced accent even as critics on social media label it condescending.

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Liberian President Joseph Boakai, second from right, attends a lunch with other African leaders hosted by US President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 9.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a lunch for African leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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Overview

  • At a July 9 White House lunch, President Trump told Liberian President Joseph Boakai he spoke “beautiful English,” appearing unaware that English is Liberia’s official language.
  • The video clip went viral overnight, prompting social media users and youth advocates to call the remark patronizing and tone-deaf.
  • Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti said Boakai took no offense and that Trump simply recognized the nation’s American-rooted English accent.
  • White House spokesperson Anna Kelly described the compliment as “heartfelt” and noted it occurred during talks on shifting US-Africa policy from aid to trade partnerships.
  • The exchange has reignited discussions about diplomatic tone, postcolonial perceptions and the historical ties between the United States and Liberia.