Trump asks Liberian president where he learnt English, despite it being Liberia’s official language

U.S. President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on Wednesday after complimenting Liberian President Joseph Boakai on his English, despite English being Liberia’s official language.

• President Trump complimented Liberian President Boakai's English during a meeting.
• English is Liberia's official language due to historical ties to the U.S.
• Trump has previously commented on the language skills of international leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on Wednesday after complimenting Liberian President Joseph Boakai on his English, despite English being Liberia’s official language.

The remark came during a White House meeting with five African heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Trump appeared visibly impressed after Boakai spoke fluently, saying:

"Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again,"

Trump inquired where Boakai got his language skills.

"Such good English," Trump said. "Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?"

"In Liberia?" Trump asked. "Yes sir," Boakai said.

"That's very interesting," Trump said. "I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well."

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Backlash trails Trump’s comment

The exchange has sparked backlash online, with many criticizing it as tone-deaf and emblematic of Trump’s broader indifference toward Africa.

Several Liberians took issue with the remark, pointing to Liberia’s deep historical ties to the United States, a nation it modelled its founding after and where English has always been the official language.

English has been the country’s official language since its founding in the early 19th century by the American Colonization Society as a resettlement for freed Black Americans.

Trump has a history of remarking on the English skills of foreign leaders during diplomatic engagements. In a previous press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he praised Merz’s fluency, saying he had “good English,” and even asked whether it matched the quality of his German.

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