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“Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia?”
President Donald Trump listens as African leaders deliver remarks during a multilateral lunch in the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday. Win McNamee / Getty Images
By MARK MENGONFIA, MONIKA PRONCZUK and WILSON MCMAKIN, Associated Press
updated on July 10, 2025 | 11:52 AM
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MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — There was confusion and anger in Liberia on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump praised the English skills of President Joseph Boakai.
“Such good English,” Trump said to Boakai, with visible surprise. “Such beautiful English.”
English has been the west African nation’s official language since the 1800s. But Trump did not stop there.
“Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” he continued, as Boakai murmured a response. “Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia?”
U.S. President Donald Trump asked Liberian President Joseph Boakai where he learned to speak “so beautifully” during a White House meeting on Wednesday.
English is the official language of Liberia. pic.twitter.com/V77qZZPKL3
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 10, 2025
The exchange took place during a meeting in the White House 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. It 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, said that while the remarks were typical of Trump’s engagement with foreign leaders, what some saw as the condescending tone was amplified by the fact that the leaders were African.
“As 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.”
Kula Fofana, spokesperson for Boakai’s office, told The Associated Press: “I believe that as journalists, it is important to focus on the substantive discussions at the summit.”
Trump’s comments added to the sense of betrayal which became palpable in Liberia in recent months.
Earlier this month, U.S. authorities dissolved theU.S. Agency for International Development and said it was no longer following what they called “a charity-based foreign aid model.”
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’s cuts because of the countries’ 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 “big brother.”
Liberia was one of the first countries to receive USAID support,