Washington: A seemingly offhand remark by US President Donald Trump during a meeting with African leaders on July 9 at the White House has ignited a storm of reactions across Africa and its diaspora. While hosting five West and Central African leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal to discuss trade and development, Trump commented on Liberian President Joseph Boakai’s English. “Such good English,” he remarked after President Boakai spoke. President Trump then asked where the Liberian president was educated.
According to Global Voices, the video clip, which has now garnered millions of views across social media, triggered accusations of ignorance, microaggression, and colonial undertones. Liberians and other Africans viewed the comment as reflective of a persistent Western misconception that English is foreign to Africa, despite the continent having numerous English-speaking nations, many due to colonial histories.
A former Nigerian Senator, Shehu Sani, further explained the controversy in a post on X: “Liberia has the closest affinity and history to the United States, more than any country in Africa. President Trump was surprised that its President speaks good English and even asking him where he learned it from. That is a classic example of disconnect and ignorance about our continent.”
English is the official language of Liberia, a country of over 5 million people on Africa’s western coast that was founded in 1822 as a project of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which aimed to resettle freed slaves, and declared independence in 1847.
Some tried to defend Trump’s remark as an innocent compliment. @Christinalb77, a commentator on X, said, “It was meant as a compliment, as many English-speaking Americans don’t even speak proper English!”
US Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett expressed concern about cultural insensitivity in international relations, especially when displayed by high-profile leaders. She wrote on X: “In a statement, the White House said the remark deemed offensive by some was a heartfelt compliment.”
This is not the first time President Trump has caused controversy with remarks about how foreigners speak English or their accents. For example, in February 2025, Trump complimented British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “beautiful accent,” and later that month, he told an Afghan reporter he couldn’t understand her “beautiful accent.” Additionally, Trump told an Indian reporter, “I can’t understand a word he’s saying,” adding, “It’s the accent, it’s a little bit tough for me.”
For many Africans, President Trump’s comment wasn’t just a gaffe; it was a painful echo of colonial-era stereotypes. As Africa asserts its global influence, such missteps highlight the importance of mutual respect in fostering meaningful partnerships.