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Trump praises Liberian president’s “good English”

The West African country got its start as an American colonial project, and its official language is English

Nights and Weekends Editor

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President Donald Trump appears at a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump appears at a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Donald Trump‘s second term has been marked by terrifying rhetoric and an unsettling disregard for the civil rights of Americans. So, it’s almost quaint when the president offers up a good, old-fashioned gaffe.

Trump blundered during a meeting with African leaders on Wednesday, praising Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s English. Founded by American settlers in the 1840s, the West African country‘s official language has always been English.

“Such good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” Trump asked, to uncomfortable laughs from the table.

Though he didn’t go into the history of free people of color founding Liberia, or mention that his presidential estate is located in a city named for an American president, Bokai explained to Trump that he learned to speak English in Liberia.

“Beautiful English,” Trump replied, still astonished. “I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well.”


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The leaders at the summit quickly moved on, but Trump came in for some clowning on social meda.

“Asking the President of Liberia where he learned English when it’s the official language is peak ignorance,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, wrote on X. “I’m pretty sure being blatantly offensive is not how you go about conducting diplomacy.”

By Alex Galbraith

Alex Galbraith is Salon's nights and weekends editor, and author of our free daily newsletter, Crash Course. He is based in New Orleans.


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