Articles in this Cluster
11-07-2025
US President Donald Trump praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai's English-speaking skills during a White House meeting, asking where he learned to speak "so beautifully". Boakai laughed and replied he learned in Liberia, not revealing that English is Liberia's official language due to its historical ties with the US. Trump also met with leaders from other West African countries and promised a shift from aid to trade, describing the region as having "very valuable land, great minerals, and great oil deposits, and wonderful people".
11-07-2025
US President Donald Trump praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for speaking "good English", highlighting the historical ties between Liberia and the US. Here are six key facts about Liberia: it was founded by freed African-American slaves in 1822; its capital, Monrovia, is named after US President James Monroe; the country's flag closely resembles the US flag; Liberia has strong cultural and institutional ties to the US; former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, has a strong American educational background; and the country is home to the world's largest rubber plantation, owned by the US tyre manufacturer Firestone. Liberians had a mixed reaction to Trump's comments, with some feeling it reflected a broader global ignorance about African nations, while others saw it as a genuine compliment.
11-07-2025
President Trump complimented Liberian President Joseph Boakai on his English-speaking skills during a White House meeting, despite English being Liberia's official language and Boakai's native tongue. Trump asked Boakai where he learned to speak English so well, and Boakai replied that he was educated in Liberia. Trump continued to praise Boakai's English, saying it was "beautiful" and that some other leaders at the meeting couldn't speak as well. The exchange was met with awkwardness, and Liberian newspapers had little coverage of the incident.
11-07-2025
President Donald Trump complimented Liberian President Joseph Boakai's English pronunciation during a White House meeting, despite English being Boakai's native language.