STORY: Liberians reacted with a mix of anger and weary resignation on Thursday (July 10) after discovering that the leader of their country's closest bilateral partner does not appear to know what language they speak.

At a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to brief remarks from his Liberian counterpart, Joseph Boakai, by marvelling at his "beautiful" English and asking where he learned it.

English is the official language of Liberia, a country founded in 1822 as a colony for free Black Americans.

Government statements are published in standard English while spoken Liberian English reflects influences from pidgin and indigenous languages used across the country of around 5.5 million people.

Liberians sometimes refer to the United States as their "big brother," but not everyone was surprised that former President Donald Trump's comments suggested a limited understanding of the country.

Fatumata Binta Sall, a Liberian feminist activist who travels frequently to the U.S., told Reuters that Trump's amazement at Boakai's English fluency was all too familiar. "Many times, I've had Americans ask me whether I studied abroad or where I learned to speak 'so well'," she said. Such remarks, she said, indicate her country "isn't visible in the minds of many Americans." She attended international conferences "to remind the world that Liberia exists." William V.S. Tubman III, a Liberian writer and grandson of former President William Tubman, voiced frustration at what he described as Trump's lack of respect. "Praising an African head of state for speaking English 'so beautifully' isn't a compliment, it's a reflection of how deeply colonial thinking continues to shape expectations," he said. "What Trump said wasn't ignorance. It was disrespect and entitlement disguised as praise."

LIBERIA SCORES 'BIGLY'

Others chose to highlight what they saw as the positive aspects of the visit.

Boakai's inclusion on the guest list gave him an opportunity to tout Liberia's mineral assets and history of democratic elections. And his status as the only anglophone - in a group that also included leaders of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon and Mauritania - clearly made an impression on his host.

"In terms of his grammar, the way that he spoke, I think it shows that Boakai has a solid foundation in his education in Liberia," radio journalist Augustus Caine said as he perused newspaper headlines in downtown Monrovia on Thursday. "We have good, good people in Liberia in terms of academic standing. So that's just what Boakai showcased to Donald Trump."

A front-page story in The Analyst newspaper said Boakai had been "eloquently conveying Liberia's critical interests" and "attracting the host's admiration." The headline featured a rarely used English word that Trump himself was credited with reviving during his first run for the White House in 2016.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SELLING ON STREET / NEWSPAPERS / MONROVIA RESIDENT REACTING TO TRUMP'S REACTION DURING LIBERIAN PRESIDENT BOAKAI'S SPEECH AT THE WHITE HOUSE

SHOWS: MONROVIA, LIBERIA (JULY 10, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS WALKING DOWN STREET

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SELLING ON STREET

3. NEWSPAPERS

4. LOCAL JOURNALIST, AUGUSTUS CAINE, LOOKING AT NEWSPAPER

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL JOURNALIST, AUGUSTUS CAINE, SAYING:

"By speaking to the president of the United States, I think the president got concerned based on his output. In terms of his grammar, the way he spoke. I think it shows that President Boakai has a solid foundation in his education in Liberia. Maybe Trump thought that Boakai got educated in the western world, but then we got to know that Boakai came from the grass root in Liberia and went to school here. So to tell you that Liberians are brilliant people. We have good people in terms of academic standing. So that's just what Boakai showcased to Trump."

6. VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS / NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING "TRUMP SURPRISED BY BOAKAI'S ENGLISH"

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESSMAN/TEACHER, FESTUS TULAY, SAYING:

"People who overlooked President Boakai, were very surprised. To go out there and meet the world President. He spoke, from this forest, he spoke. The world President looked at him and asked, 'Which school did you graduate? Your grammar, your English are all correct,' it's a plus for Liberia. It shows that Boakai did well, he understands presidency and how to speak."

l8. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS IN MARKET

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIVERSITY WORKER, ANDREW MYERS, SAYING:

"There are lot of people want to invest into Liberia. People heard about Liberia and never been here before. But the way Boakai spoke, it could encourage Trump to come and see the land where Boakai's from, especially Liberia. President Boakai told Trump about possible investment into Liberia, about our resources. We got the resources here, but we don't know how to manage them."

10. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS IN MARKET

11. NEWSPAPERS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESSMAN/TEACHER, FESTUS TULAY, SAYING:

"People whom don't understand government affairs, Boakai had right to say 'Yes sir,' because Trump is the world president. Any president appears in front of the world president, that's your boss. So you always say yes sir."

13. RESIDENTS DISCUSSING IN FRONT OF NEWSPAPER KIOSK / MAN HOLDING NEWSPAPER

14. RESIDENTS IN MARKET

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESSMAN, MORRIS KAIZULU, SAYING:

"Trump invited Boakai is a good thing, but we actually expect our leader come out saying something good for our nation. What is affecting us. What are the major problems that we faced for years. So we expected him to say something that will please us..."

16. RESIDENTS LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS