‘Such good English’: Liberian President’s praise of Trump’s praise criticism – watch

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised Liberan President Joseph Bokai for his strong command in English during a meeting at the White House. However, Liberia’s official language is English and Bokai was educated there. This criticized all over Africa.Hosting five African leaders, Trump asked Bokai: “It is so good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” Bokai replied that he was educated in Liberia. Trump replied, “This is very interesting. I have people on this table who almost cannot speak.”

Liberia was established in 1822 to re -prepare the slaves free slaves from America by American colonial society. The country announced independence in 1847. Although many languages ​​are spoken there, English is the official language.Many Liberians found Trump’s comment aggressive. “I felt humiliated because our country is an English -speaking country,” told CNN, a young lawyer in Liberia.Harris said, “To ask the question, I don’t see it as a praise. I think the US President and people in the West still see the Africans as people in villages who are not educated,” Harris said.South African politician, Veronica Ment questioned X: “What stops [Boakai] Standing and leave[ing],The White House defended Trump’s comment. In a statement by CNN, Senior Advisor of Administration for Africa, Masad Boulos said: “I was in the meeting and everyone was appreciating the President’s time and effort.” He said that there was no friend in the White House in Africa as the President is in Trump.Deputy Press Secretary, Anna Kelly said that Trump’s comment was a “hearty praise” stating that “reporters should assume that President Trump has already made more to restore global stability and uplift countries around Africa and the world, which Biden had done in four years.”Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Sarah Baysolo Nanati, told CNN that there was “no crime” by President Bokai. He said that people often do not understand the linguistic history of Africa, saying that Trump recognized Liberia’s American-influenced English pronunciation.Trump has made similar comments earlier. At a press conference with German Chancellor Frederick Merz, he praised Mars’ “good English” and joked about if it was good as his German.Trump has also emphasized English as part of his “USA First” agenda. During a 2015 President’s debate, Trump said that America is “a country where we speak English.” In March, he signed an executive order, making English the official language of the US.