Liberians are expressing confusion and anger after United States President Donald Trump praised the English expertise of their nation’s President Joseph Boakai.
“Such good English,” Trump stated to Boakai on the White House on Wednesday, with seen shock. “Such lovely English.”
English has been the West African nation’s official language because the 1800s. However Trump didn’t cease there.
“The place did you study to talk so fantastically?” he continued, as Boakai murmured a response. “The place have been you educated? The place? In Liberia?”
The change happened throughout a gathering within the White Home between Trump and 5 West African leaders, amid a pivot from help to commerce in US international coverage.
Liberia has had deep ties with Washington for hundreds of years, stemming from the drive to relocate freed slaves from the US.
Foday Massaquio, chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots, stated that whereas the remarks have been typical of Trump’s engagement with international leaders, what some noticed as a condescending tone was amplified by the truth that the leaders have been African.
“As a matter of reality, it additionally proves that the West is just not taking us critically as Africans,” he stated. “President Trump was condescending; he was very disrespectful to the African chief.”
Kula Fofana, spokesperson for Boakai’s workplace, informed the Related Press information company: “I imagine that as journalists, you will need to give attention to the substantive discussions on the summit.”
“We discover it a very good factor that President Trump is commending our president for his means of talking and the readability he supplied through the assembly,” she added. “Nonetheless, we look ahead to attaining the substantive request particularly partaking in a stronger bilateral relationship with america.”
Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Liberia’s international minister, stated on X that “President Trump’s touch upon Boakai’s ‘lovely English’ merely acknowledged Liberia’s acquainted American-rooted accent and no offence was taken”.
“Our linguistic heritage is deeply American‑influenced, & this was merely recognised by Donald Trump. We stay dedicated to strengthening Liberia‑US ties, constructed on mutual respect, shared values, and significant partnership,” the minister stated.
Shut relationship prior to now
However for others, Trump’s feedback added to the sense of betrayal that turned palpable in Liberia in latest months.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration dissolved the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) and stated it was not following what it referred to as “a charity-based international help mannequin”.
That call despatched shock waves throughout Liberia, the place US assist made up nearly 2.6 % of the gross nationwide earnings, the best proportion wherever on the planet, based on the Heart for World Improvement.
Liberians thought they might be spared from Trump’s cuts due to the international locations’ shut relationship. Their political system is modelled on that of the US, together with its flag. Liberians typically seek advice from the US as their “huge brother”.
Liberia was one of many first international locations to obtain USAID assist, beginning in 1961. Its road indicators, taxis and faculty buses resemble these in New York.
“Liberia is a longstanding good friend of the USA, due to this fact Trump ought to have understood that we communicate English as an official language,” stated Moses Dennis, 37, a businessman from Monrovia. He added that Boakai didn’t go to Washington for “an English-speaking competitors”.
‘Condescending and ridiculing’
Dennis’s views were echoed by Siokin Civicus Barsi-Giah, a close associate of Liberia’s former President George Weah.
“Liberia is an English-speaking country,” he said. “Former slaves and slave owners decided to organise themselves to let go of many people who were in slavery in the United States of America, and they landed on these shores now called the Republic of Liberia.”
For him, the exchange was “condescending and ridiculing”.
“Joseph Boakai was not praised. He was mocked by the greatest president in the world, who is leading the greatest country in the world,” he said.
Some, however, said that given Trump’s style, Wednesday’s remarks were meant as praise.
“To some, the comment may carry a whiff of condescension, echoing a longstanding Western tendency to express surprise when African leaders display intellectual fluency,” said Abraham Julian Wennah, director of research at the African Methodist Episcopal University. “In postcolonial contexts, language has long been weaponised to question legitimacy and competence.”
But if one looks at “Trump’s rhetorical style”, the remarks were “an acknowledgment of Boakai’s polish, intellect and readiness for global engagement”, Wennah added.