The Conversation (0)
Trump
Getty Images
US President Donald Trump has been slammed as “ignorant” for praising the Liberian president for speaking “such good English” when it is in fact, the country’s national language.
The cringeworthy incident unfolded on Wednesday (9 July) during a meeting with several African leaders at the White House.
Trump complimented Liberia’s president, Joseph Boakai, on his English-speaking skills and asked him where he was educated.
Boakai laughed at the awkward moment but saved Trump’s blushes at the time by failing to mention that English is his country’s official language.
Trump told Boakai: “And such good English, that’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
“Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia? Well, that’s very interesting. It’s beautiful English,” Trump continued. “I have people at this table can’t speak nearly as well.”
The viral clip has prompted some Americans to label their own country an “international embarrassment”.
“He managed to simultaneously look like an idiot, be condescending and use the ‘well spoken black man’ trope. We are an international embarrassment,” someone on X/Twitter wrote.
Another said: “My God, he’s such a f**king idiot.”
Someone else wrote: “Trump is aggressively ignorant. He does not learn, actively resists it, and has surrounded himself with people who enable his stupidity.”
"He embarrasses us on the world stage daily", another added.
Another pointed out: “Is Trump trolling or an idiot? Liberia was founded by a US NGO in 1822 to provide a sustainable way for freed slaves to return to the continent of Africa. It’s called Liberia to reflect their ‘Liberty’. Monrovia, the capital, was named after then US President James Monroe.”
Why not read…
The 20 most stupid things Donald Trump has ever said
Musk's relationship with Trump cost him staggering amount of money
MAGA supporter instantly regrets asking who 'gives a f***' about Epstein files
Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel
Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings