US President Donald Trump had just finished nodding through
a flurry of translated praises from African leaders when he turned to Liberian
President Joseph Boakai with a question that caught the room off guard.
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.
“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.
Boakai did not mention that English is his country’s
official language.
Later in the meeting, Trump said his administration is
committed to strengthening friendships in Africa, which he hopes to visit at
some point.
The African leaders, in turn, heaped praises on the US
president for brokering peace deals around the world and expressed support for
his intention to receive a Nobel peace prize.
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