‘Such good English’: Liberians confused, angry at Trump comments to Boakai

Liberians are expressing disorder and choler aft United States President Donald Trump praised the English skills of their country’s President Joseph Boakai.

“Such bully English,” Trump said to Boakai astatine the White House connected Wednesday, with disposable surprise. “Such beauteous English.”

English has been the West African nation’s authoritative connection since the 1800s. But Trump did not halt there.

“Where did you larn to talk truthful beautifully?” helium continued, arsenic Boakai murmured a response. “Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia?”

The speech took spot during a gathering successful the White House betwixt Trump and 5 West African leaders, amid a pivot from assistance to commercialized successful US overseas policy.

Liberia has had heavy ties with Washington for centuries, stemming from the thrust to relocate freed slaves from the US.

Foday Massaquio, president of the absorption Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots, said that portion the remarks were emblematic of Trump’s engagement with overseas leaders, what immoderate saw arsenic a condescending code was amplified by the information that the leaders were African.

“As a substance of fact, it besides proves that the West is not taking america earnestly arsenic Africans,” helium said. “President Trump was condescending; helium was precise disrespectful to the African leader.”

Kula Fofana, spokesperson for Boakai’s office, told the Associated Press quality agency: “I judge that arsenic journalists, it is important to absorption connected the substantive discussions astatine the summit.”

“We find it a bully happening that President Trump is commending our president for his mode of speaking and the clarity helium provided during the meeting,” she added. “However, we look guardant to achieving the substantive petition specifically engaging successful a stronger bilateral narration with the United States.”

Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Liberia’s overseas minister, said connected X that “President Trump’s remark connected Boakai’s ‘beautiful English’ simply acknowledged Liberia’s acquainted American-rooted accent and nary offence was taken”.

“Our linguistic practice is profoundly American‑influenced, & this was simply recognised by Donald Trump. We stay committed to strengthening Liberia‑US ties, built connected communal respect, shared values, and meaningful partnership,” the curate said.

US President Donald Trump participates successful a multilateral luncheon with visiting African Leaders successful the State Dining Room of the White House successful Washington, DC, the US connected July 9, 2025 [AFP]

Close narration successful the past

But for others, Trump’s comments added to the consciousness of betrayal that became palpable successful Liberia successful caller months.

Earlier this month, the Trump medication dissolved the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and said it was nary longer pursuing what it called “a charity-based overseas assistance model”.

That determination sent daze waves crossed Liberia, wherever US enactment made up astir 2.6 percent of the gross nationalist income, the highest percent anyplace successful the world, according to the Center for Global Development.

Liberians thought they would beryllium spared from Trump’s cuts due to the fact that of the countries’ adjacent relationship. Their governmental strategy is modelled connected that of the US, on with its flag. Liberians often notation to the US arsenic their “big brother”.

Liberia was 1 of the archetypal countries to person USAID support, starting successful 1961. Its thoroughfare signs, taxis and schoolhouse buses lucifer those successful New York.

“Liberia is simply a longstanding person of the USA, truthful Trump should person understood that we talk English arsenic an authoritative language,” said Moses Dennis, 37, a businessman from Monrovia. He added that Boakai did not spell to Washington for “an English-speaking competition”.

The Liberian flag, above, is modelled connected the US emblem [File: Luc Gnago/Reuters[

‘Condescending and ridiculing’

Dennis’s views were echoed by Siokin Civicus Barsi-Giah, a adjacent subordinate of Liberia’s erstwhile President George Weah.

“Liberia is an English-speaking country,” helium said. “Former slaves and enslaved owners decided to organise themselves to fto spell of galore radical who were successful slavery successful the United States of America, and they landed connected these shores present called the Republic of Liberia.”

For him, the speech was “condescending and ridiculing”.

“Joseph Boakai was not praised. He was mocked by the top president successful the world, who is starring the top state successful the world,” helium said.

Some, however, said that fixed Trump’s style, Wednesday’s remarks were meant arsenic praise.

“To some, the remark whitethorn transportation a whiff of condescension, echoing a longstanding Western inclination to explicit astonishment erstwhile African leaders show intelligence fluency,” said Abraham Julian Wennah, manager of probe astatine the African Methodist Episcopal University. “In postcolonial contexts, connection has agelong been weaponised to question legitimacy and competence.”

But if 1 looks astatine “Trump’s rhetorical style”, the remarks were “an acknowledgment of Boakai’s polish, intellect and readiness for planetary engagement”, Wennah added.