Trump Faces Backlash After Asking Liberian President Where He Learned English

When President Donald Trump sat down with African leaders at the White House recently, he paused to praise Liberian President Joseph Boakai’s “beautiful English” but the comment didn’t land the way he might have hoped.

Instead, it left many in the Black community and across social media raising eyebrows and breaking out the side-eye emojis.

According to NBC News, Trump turned to Boakai during a roundtable and said, “Such good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully? In Liberia? That’s very interesting.” He followed up with, “Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia? Well, that’s very interesting. It’s beautiful English. I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well.”

For many Liberians and folks in the diaspora, the question felt out of touch. Liberia has been speaking English officially since 1847—something that’s not exactly a secret.

The West African country was founded by freed Black Americans, and its capital, Monrovia, is named after U.S. President James Monroe. English is not just widely spoken, it’s the language of the government, the courts, and daily life.

Unsurprisingly, social media lit up. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett called Trump’s words “peak ignorance,” while ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger simply called them “ridiculous.” For many, it was a reminder of just how much history about Africa and the diaspora gets overlooked or forgotten in mainstream conversations.

But the Liberian side didn’t let the comment ruffle feathers. Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti said officials took “no offense,” framing Trump’s words as a nod to Liberia’s American roots. She reaffirmed the strong relationship between the two countries, turning what could have been an awkward moment into a diplomatic win.

The White House, for its part, described the comments as “a heartfelt compliment” during a historic meeting with African leaders.

Still, for many watching, the moment echoed a pattern. Back in 2018, Trump was heavily criticized for reportedly referring to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries” in a meeting with lawmakers—a controversy that’s still fresh in many minds.