Trump's language praise for Liberian President 'offensive'

US President Donald Trump has praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for his strong grasp of the English language: ‘Such good English, it’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?’ CNN reports that Bokai who was one of five African leaders hosted at the White House last week, was educated in Liberia, where English is the official language. Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonisation Society whose goal was to resettle freed slaves in Africa. The country declared independence from the American Colonisation Society in 1847. Several Liberians voiced their offence over Trump’s comment to Boakai, given the US President’s past remarks on African countries and the colonial legacy left by the US organisation in Liberia. A Liberian diplomat told CNN that the comment ‘was not appropriate’. The White House Press Office addressed the matter, saying ‘the continent of Africa has never had such a friend in the White House as they do in President Trump’. Trump also met with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal, praising their countries as ‘all very vibrant places with very valuable land, great minerals, great oil deposits, and wonderful people.’

Full CNN report