By Mark Menonfia, Monika Pronronzuk and Wilson McMakin
Monrovia, Liberia (AP) – There was confusion and anger in it Liberia On Thursday after US President Donald Trump had praised the English skills of President Joseph’s.
“So good English,” Trump told Boakai, with visible surprise. “So beautiful English.”
English has been the official language of the West African nation since the 19th century. But Trump didn’t stop there.
“Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” He continued, while Boakai muttered a reaction. “Where are you trained? Where in Liberia?”
The exchange took place during a Meeting in the White House Between Trump and five West -African leaders on Wednesday, in the midst of a pivot of help to trade in American foreign policy.
Liberia has had deep ties with the United States for centuries. It was set for the first time with the aim of moving liberated slaves from the United States.
Foday Massaquoo, chairman of the opposition congress for the Democratic Change Council of Patriots, said that although the comments were typical of Trump’s involvement with foreign leaders, some saw as the condescending tone was reinforced by the fact that the leaders were African.
“In fact, it also proves that the West does not take us seriously as Africans,” he said. “President Trump was condescending, he was very disrespectful for the African leader.”
Kula Fofana, spokesperson for the Boakai office, told The Associated Press: “I believe it is important as journalists to concentrate on the substantive discussions at the top.”
President Donald Trump speaks during lunch with African leaders, including Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalû, Mauritan President Oligiui, in the Staatkaani, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, in the Staterni, Intothes, Gaboni Intothing 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025. Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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President Donald Trump speaks during lunch with African leaders, including Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalû, Mauritan President Oligiui, in the Staatkaani, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, Gaboni, in the Staterni, Intothes, Gaboni Intothing 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025, 2025. Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Close relationship in the past
Trump’s comments contributed to the feeling of betrayal that in recent months it has been felt in Liberia.
Earlier this month, American authorities Solved the US Agency for International Development And said it no longer followed what they called “a charity -based foreign help model.”
That decision sent shock waves in Liberia, where American support was nearly 2.6% of gross national income, the highest percentage all over the world, according to the Center for Global Development.
Liberians thought they would be saved from Trump’s cuts because of the close relationship of the countries. Their political system is modeled on that of the US, together with the flag. Liberians often call the US their ‘big brother’.
Liberia was one of the first countries to receive USAID support, starting in 1961. The street signs, taxis and school buses are similar to those in New York.
“In the first place, Liberia is a long -term friend of the US, which is why 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 ‘an English -speaking competition’.
‘Condescending and ridiculous’
His views were reflected by Siokin Civicus Barsi-Giah, a leadership expert and a close employee of the former president George Weah.
“Liberia is an English -speaking country,” he said. “Former slaves and slave owners decided to organize many people who were in slavery in the United States of America, and they landed on these coasts that were now called the Republic of Liberia.”
For him, the exchange was “condescending and ridiculous.”
He added: “Joseph Boakai was not praised. He was mocked by the largest president in the world, who leads the largest country in the world.”
However, some said that given the personal style of Trump, the comments of Wednesday were meant as a praise.
“For some, the remark can bear a touch of condescendingness, which has a long -term Western tendency to express surprise when African leaders show intellectual fluency,” said Abraham Julian Wennah the director of research at African Methodist Episcopal University. “In post -colonial contexts, language has long been armed to question legitimacy and competence.”
But if you look at ‘Trump’s rhetorical style’, these comments were “a recognition of Boakai’s Polish, Intellect and Pleadiness for global involvement,” he said.
Originally published:
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