Donald Trump repeatedly complimented Joseph Boakai, the president of Liberia, for speaking “such good English” during a multilateral lunch with African leaders hosted by the president at the White House on Wednesday. English is the official language of Liberia.
“Well, thank you. And such good English,” Trump commented after Boakai made brief remarks at the table in front of the news media. “Such beautiful — where did you — where did you learn to speak so beautifully? Where? Were you educated? Where?”
“In Liberia?” Trump continued questioning.
“Yes, sir,” Boakai replied.
“Well, that’s very interesting. It’s beautiful English,” Trump remarked.
“I have people at this table, can’t speak nearly as well. They come from —” the president was cut off mid-sentence, as the audio suddenly cut out of the video feed. It’s unclear if the microphones were intentionally cut or if there was an unrelated interruption in the White House’s official livestream of the event.
Liberia was colonized in 1822 as part of the “Back to Africa” movement. It was meant to be settlement for formerly enslaved Africans and African Americans. Liberia gained independence from the American Colonization Society in 1847.
