VIDEO: Liberians confused and angry after Trump's praise for their leader's English
At a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump responded to brief remarks from his Liberian counterpart, Joseph Boakai, by marvelling at his "beautiful" English. But Trump did not stop there. "Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?" he continued, as Boakai murmured a response. "Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia?"
English has been the west African nation's official language since the 1800s.
Government statements are published in standard English while spoken Liberian English reflects influences from pidgin and indigenous languages used across the country of around 5.5 million people.
Liberians sometimes refer to the US as their "big brother," but not everyone was surprised that Trump's knowledge of the country did not seem to reflect that closeness.
Fatumata Binta Sall, a Liberian feminist activist who travels frequently to the US, told Reuters that Trump's amazement at Boakai's English fluency was all too familiar.
"Many times, I've had Americans ask me whether I studied abroad or where I learned to speak 'so well'," she said.
Such remarks, she said, indicate her country "isn't visible in the minds of many Americans." She attended international conferences "to remind the world that Liberia exists."
William V.S. Tubman III, a Liberian writer and grandson of former President William Tubman, voiced frustration at what he described as Trump's lack of respect.
"Praising an African head of state for speaking English 'so beautifully' isn't a compliment, it's a reflection of how deeply colonial thinking continues to shape expectations," he said.
"What Trump said wasn't ignorance. It was disrespect and entitlement disguised as praise."
Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, said no one in the room was bothered by Trump's remark.
"I was in the meeting and everyone was deeply appreciative of the President's time and effort," Boulos said in a statement.
The White House shared a separate statement from Liberia's foreign minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, stressing that Boakai himself also took no offence.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai greets relatives of slain officials in Monrovia, Liberia. File / Reuters
"What President Trump heard distinctly was the American influence on our English in Liberia, and the Liberian president is not offended by that," she said.
"We know that English has different accents and forms, and so him picking up the distinct intonation that has its roots in American English for us was just recognising a familiar English version."
LIBERIA SCORES 'BIGLY'
Some residents of the Liberian capital Monrovia also chose to highlight what they saw as the positive aspects of the visit.
Boakai's inclusion on the guest list gave him an opportunity to tout Liberia's mineral assets and history of democratic elections.
And his status as the only anglophone — in a group that also included leaders of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon and Mauritania — clearly made an impression on his host.
"In terms of his grammar, the way that he spoke, I think it shows that Boakai has a solid foundation in his education in Liberia," radio journalist Augustus Caine said.
A front-page story in The Analyst newspaper said Boakai had been "eloquently conveying Liberia's critical interests" and "attracting the host's admiration."
The headline featured a rarely used English word that Trump himself was credited with reviving during his first run for the White House in 2016. "Trump's Invite of Liberia Scores 'Bigly," it read.
Reuters
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