During the meeting with several African leaders, Trump was particularly struck by Boakai’s fluent English and asked where he had learned to speak so well.
The gathering, held on Wednesday, July 7, included presidents from Senegal, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Liberia.
As each of the other presidents addressed Trump in their native or official languages — French, Portuguese, or Arabic — Boakai stood out by delivering his remarks in clear English.
He emphasized Liberia’s commitment to regional peace and called for stronger ties through U.S. investment.
“Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again.
“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,” Boakai said before advocating for U.S. investment in his country.
Donald Trump, clearly impressed by Joseph Boakai’s command of English, responded with a smile.
“Thank you and such good English. It’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
“Were you educated? Where? In Liberia?” Trump asked.
Boakai politely chuckled and replied, “Yes, sir.”
Still surprised, Trump added, “That’s very interesting. Beautiful English too. I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well.”
What Donald Trump didn’t seem to know is that English is Liberia’s official language.
The country was established in 1822 as a settlement for formerly enslaved African Americans, which is why it remains English-speaking to this day, even though many Indigenous languages are also spoken across the country.
That shared history is part of the reason Liberia and the U.S. have long maintained close diplomatic ties.
Later in the meeting, Trump said he hoped to build stronger relationships across Africa and even expressed interest in visiting the continent in the future.
The African leaders in attendance praised Trump for his efforts in global peace negotiations and voiced their support for him being considered for a Nobel Peace Prize.
KanyiDaily recalls that President Donald Trump recently signed a new order that restricts people from 12 countries from entering the United States, saying it’s necessary for national security.
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