Trump praises the President of Liberia during a meeting at the White House

US President Donald Trump praised a group of African leaders during a meeting that brought them together yesterday.

The first speaker was the Liberian President, Joseph Bouakai, who tried to remind Trump’s history of long cooperation between his country and the United States.

“Lipiria is an ancient friend of the United States, and we believe in your policy to make America great again,” the Liberian leader said at the White House meeting, before defending the American investment in his country.

“We just want to thank you very much for this opportunity,” he added in an eloquent English language.

As soon as the Liber guest finished his brief speech, Trump wondered, and he appeared to him: “Where did he gain his linguistic skills?” Where did you receive your education? ”

Boakai seemed to laugh, knowing that the English language is the official language in Liberia, and asked Trump: In Liberia? Bawakai replied: Yes, sir, and Trump responded: This is interesting, this is a beautiful English language, I have people on this table who are not good at talking to it.

Liberia was established in 1822 as a colony of free black Americans, which is the fruit of eggs that sought to address what they considered a “problem”, which is the future of blacks in the United States after the end of slavery. The English language is the official language in the country, although several languages ​​for indigenous people are still used by local tribes.

Trump had hosted Gabon leaders, Guinea -Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal at the White House, on Wednesday, declaring to them that he was going to change the US approach to the continent, from aid to trade, and that the United States is a better partner for Africa from China.

Several leaders spoke at the meeting in their official countries through immediate translators.

Trump has confirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening friendships in Africa, which he hopes to visit at some point. He said at the beginning of his meeting: “We move from aid to trade.” He added: “There are huge economic potentials in Africa, unlike a few other places, in many ways, and in the long run, this will be more effective, sustainable and beneficial than anything that we can do together.”

In turn, African leaders praised the American President for his mediating in peace agreements around the world, and expressed their support for receiving the Nobel Prize.

“We are not poor countries, but we are countries rich in raw materials, but we need partners who support us and help us in developing these resources.” He added: “You are invited to invest, otherwise other countries may resort to investment.” On the “Guardian”

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Angry reactions

The White House official, Anna Kelly, described the statements of President Donald Trump for the Liberian President, Joseph Bouakai, as “a compliment to a meeting that represented a historic moment in American -African relations.” Although Liberia includes a large number of indigenous population, many of its population descended from the liberated American worshipers, who were sent to Africa in the early 19th century. Monrovia, the country’s capital, was named after James Monroe, the Fifth US President, who supported the establishment of Liberia as a state of the liberated American worshipers. Monroe himself was the owner of some of them.

In 1847, Liberia established a constitution inspired by the American constitution, and declared independence. It is now the oldest modern republic in Africa, and the second oldest black -led republic in the world, after Haiti, which was founded in 1804 after the French was expelled.

Trump’s comments about Bouquay sparked angry reactions on the Internet. “Trump is never a chance to be racist and wrong, and every day he finds a new way to embarrass himself,” said MP Jasmine Crocate, a democracy of Texas, and continued, and continued, “The question of the President of Liberia about the place of learning the English language, the official language of the country is the height of ignorance, I am completely sure that the blatant abuse is not a diplomatic method.”

“He is a man who is not aware of history, this is very ridiculous,” said former American deputy, Adam Kenzenger, who is one of the most prominent critics of Trump.

In his first term, Trump faced criticism from African and Haitian officials when he described Haiti and African states as “disgusting countries” during a 2018 meeting with representatives of Congress.

. “English” is the official language in Liberia, although several languages ​​for indigenous people are still used by local tribes.