United States President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, asked Liberian President Joseph Boakai where the latter learned to speak English.
Trump was basking in the praise of a group of African leaders on Wednesday, many of them speaking a different language, when the Liberian president took to his microphone and spoke in English – his country’s official language.
“Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States and we believe in your policy of making America great again,” Boakai said at a White House meeting before advocating for U.S. investment in his country.
“We just want to thank you so much for this opportunity,” the Liberian president added.
Trump was impressed and inquired where Boakai got his language skills.
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He said: “Such good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
Boakai seemed to chuckle.
“In Liberia?” Trump asked.
“Yes sir,” Boakai said.
“That’s very interesting. I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well,” Trump added.
Liberia was founded in 1822 as a colony for free Black Americans, the brainchild of white Americans trying to address what they saw as a problem – the future for Black people in the United States once slavery ended.
English is Liberia’s official language, though multiple indigenous languages are spoken there as well.
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