MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) 鈥 There was confusion and anger in Liberia on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump praised the English skills of President Joseph Boakai.
鈥淪uch good English,鈥 Trump said to Boakai, with visible surprise. 鈥淪uch beautiful English.鈥
English has been the west African nation's official language since the 1800s. But Trump .
鈥淲here did you learn to speak so beautifully?" he continued, as Boakai murmured a response. 鈥淲here were you educated? Where? In Liberia?鈥
The exchange took place during a between Trump and five West African leaders on Wednesday, amid a pivot from aid to trade in the U.S. foreign policy.
Liberia has had deep ties with the United States for centuries. The country was first established with the aim of relocating freed slaves from the United States.
Foday Massaquio, chairman of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots, a Liberian political group, said that while the remarks were typical of Trump鈥檚 engagement with foreign leaders, what some saw as a 鈥榗ondescending鈥 tone was amplified by the fact that the leaders were African.
鈥淎s a matter of fact, it also proves that the West is not taking us seriously as Africans," he said. "President Trump was condescending, he was very disrespectful to the African leader.鈥
Kula Fofana, spokesperson for Boakai's office, told The Associated Press: 鈥淚 believe that as journalists, it is important to focus on the substantive discussions at the summit.鈥
Close relationship in the past
Trump's comments added to the sense of betrayal which became palpable in Liberia in recent months.
Earlier this month, U.S. authorities and said it was no longer following what they called 鈥渁 charity-based foreign aid model.鈥
That decision sent shockwaves across Liberia, where American support made up almost 2.6% of the gross national income, the highest percentage anywhere in the world, according to the Center for Global Development.
Liberians thought they would be spared from Trump鈥檚 cuts because of the countries鈥 close relationship. Their political system is modeled on that of the U.S., along with its flag. Liberians often refer to the U.S. as their 鈥渂ig brother.鈥
Liberia was one of the first countries to receive USAID support, starting in 1961. The street signs, taxis and school buses resemble those in New York.
"In the first place, Liberia is a long standing friend of the USA, therefore Trump should have understood that we speak English as an official language," said Moses Dennis, 37, a businessman from Monrovia. He added that Boakai did not go to Washington for 鈥渁n English speaking competition.鈥
鈥楥ondescending and ridiculing鈥
His views were echoed by Siokin Civicus Barsi-Giah, a leadership expert and a close associate of former President .
鈥淟iberia is an English speaking country,鈥 he said. "Former slaves and slave owners decided to organize 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.鈥
For him, the exchange was 鈥渃ondescending and ridiculing.鈥
He added: 鈥淛oseph Boakai was not praised. He was mocked by the greatest president in the world, who is leading the greatest country in the world.鈥
Some however said that given Trump's personal style, Wednesday's remarks were meant as a praise.
鈥淭o some, the comment may carry a whiff of condescension, echoing a long-standing Western tendency to express surprise when African leaders display intellectual fluency," said Abraham Julian Wennah the director of Research at the African Methodist Episcopal University. 鈥淚n postcolonial contexts, language has long been weaponized to question legitimacy and competence.鈥
But if one looks at 鈥淭rump's rhetorical style,鈥 these remarks were 鈥渁n acknowledgment of Boakai鈥檚 polish, intellect, and readiness for global engagement,鈥 he said.
