MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) 鈥 U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 praise of the 鈥渂eautiful鈥 English of Liberia鈥檚 President Joseph Boakai drew confusion Thursday in the English-speaking African country and umbrage over what many considered condescending remarks.
鈥淪uch good English,鈥 Trump said to Boakai during an event at the White House, with visible surprise. 鈥淪uch beautiful English.鈥
Although English has been the official language of Liberia since the country鈥檚 founding in the 1800s, Trump asked Boakai where he had learned to speak the language 鈥渟o beautifully,鈥 and continued as Boakai murmured a response. 鈥淲here were you educated? Where? In Liberia?鈥
The exchange took place Wednesday during a between Trump and five West African leaders, amid a pivot from aid to trade in U.S. foreign policy.
Boakai鈥檚 government said it took no offense at Trump鈥檚 remarks, but other groups in Liberia described the remarks as an insult.
The White House declined to comment on whether Trump was aware that English was Liberia's official language. Massad Boulos, the president's senior adviser for Africa, stressed that Trump 鈥渁ctually complimented the language skills of the Liberian president,'' and that everyone at the meeting was 鈥漝eeply appreciative" of the president's time and effort.
Trump's comments draw mixed reaction
Liberia has had deep ties with the United States for centuries, stemming from the drive to relocate freed slaves from the United States.
Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti said on X that 鈥淧resident Trump鈥檚 comment on Boakai鈥檚 鈥榖eautiful English鈥 simply acknowledged Liberia鈥檚 familiar American-rooted accent and no offense was taken.鈥
鈥淥ur linguistic heritage is deeply American鈥慽nfluenced, & this was simply recognized by . We remain committed to strengthening Liberia鈥慤.S. ties, built on mutual respect, shared values, and meaningful partnership,鈥 the minister said.
Foday Massaquio, chairman of Liberia's opposition Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots, said the remarks exemplified Trump's lack of respect for foreign leaders, particularly African ones.
鈥淧resident Trump was condescending, he was very disrespectful to the African leader," Massaquio said, adding that it 鈥減roves that the West is not taking us seriously as Africans.鈥
Comments add to a
larm over aid cuts
For many observers, Trump鈥檚 comments added to the sense of alarm and even betrayal over cuts in U.S. aid to the African country.
The decision by U.S. authorities earlier this month to dissolve sent shockwaves across Liberia. American support previously had 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.
鈥淟iberia is a long standing friend of the USA, therefore Trump should have understood that we speak English as an official language,鈥 said Moses Dennis, 37, a businessman from Monrovia.
Condescension or praise?
Siokin Civicus Barsi-Giah, a close associate of former President , echoed the notion that Trump should have known that Liberians speak English.
鈥淟iberia is an English speaking country,鈥 he said. 鈥淔ormer 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," and he said: 鈥淛oseph Boakai was not praised. He was mocked by the greatest president in the world."
Some observers, however, said that they believed Trump's remarks genuinely were intended as 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,鈥 said Abraham Julian Wennah, a researcher at the African Methodist Episcopal University.
But if one looks at 鈥淭rump鈥檚 rhetorical style,鈥 the remarks were 鈥渁n acknowledgment of Boakai鈥檚 polish, intellect, and readiness for global engagement,鈥 he said.
鈥斺赌斺赌
AP writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.
