US President Donald Trump has expressed shock after Liberian President, Joseph Boakai spoke fluently in English, asking him if he’s educated and where he acquired his education.
Trump had hosted the presidents of Senegal, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Liberia at the White House on Wednesday.
Of the five nations, Liberia is the only one where English is the official language — a legacy of its 19th-century founding by freed American slaves.
Senegal and Gabon are French-speaking, Guinea-Bissau’s official language is Portuguese, and Mauritania uses Arabic. Liberia, meanwhile, has been English-speaking since 1822.
After Boakai’s counterparts finished speaking in their languages, he took his turn in English.
“Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again,” Boakai told Trump.
“Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again,” Boakai told Trump.
“We want to work with the United States in peace and security within the region because we are committed to that and we just want to thank you so much for this opportunity.”
In response, the US president said: “Thank you and such good English. It’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
“Were you educated? Where? In Liberia?”
Boakai seemed to chuckle politely. “Yes sir,” he replied Trump.
“That’s very interesting. Beautiful English too. I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well,” Trump said.
Donald Trump asks the President of Liberia, “Such good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
The official language of Liberia is English.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 9, 2025
The development has sparked reactions and renewed criticism of Trump’s repeated blunders on global affairs.
An unnamed Liberian diplomat told CNN that he found it “a bit condescending.”
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D, Texas) said it was “peak ignorance” in a post on X. “Trump never misses an opportunity to be racist and wrong, and every day he finds a new way to be embarrassing,”
Crockett wrote. “I’m pretty sure being blatantly offensive is not how you go about conducting diplomacy.”
“Trump just praised the leader of Liberia for his English. ‘Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?’ FACT: English is the official language of Liberia. NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT,” U.S. political commentator Brian Krassenstein posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Another X user with the name ‘Trump Lie Tracker’, wrote, “Trump patronizingly asks the President of Liberia how he learned to speak English so beautifully. Trump, of course, has no idea that English is the official language of Liberia.”
Another user with the name ‘Anonymous’, wrote, “Trump to Liberian President: Such beautiful English, where did you learn to speak English? English is the official language of Liberia. This is embarrassing.”
Founded in 1822 by the American Colonisation Society as a settlement for freed African Americans, Liberia has long been culturally and linguistically aligned with the United States.
The country declared its independence in 1847, becoming Africa’s first republic led by people of African American descent. These settlers, known as Americo-Liberians, brought American-style governance and culture, including the English language.
Today, English remains Liberia’s only official language, used in government, legal documents, education, and media. Though the nation also boasts over 20 indigenous languages, English remains dominant in all formal communication
