Despite not visiting Africa during his presidency, Donald Trump has made an impact.
During his first term, Trump drew criticism for comments about the continent and other nations. He allegedly used derogatory terms to describe Haiti and African countries. While Trump denied using those specific words, Senator Dick Durbin claimed Trump made hateful and racist remarks repeatedly during a closed-door meeting.
In his second term, Trump has faced criticism for allegedly promoting false claims, granting pardons to certain individuals, and implementing policies that appear to target majority-Black areas.
He has also significantly reduced humanitarian aid to the continent. Africa experienced substantial cuts in support from USAID, impacting various programs.
Many interpreted these actions as a sign of Trump’s disregard for Africa.
However, Africa is increasingly seen as a hub for global economic growth, possessing diverse resources, a young population, and untapped potential.
It has also become a key area of competition in the U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry, where some believe China is gaining an advantage through consistent engagement, investment, and trade.
One Chinese political scientist suggested that China’s success in Africa is partly due to the failures of U.S. foreign policy, which alternates between disrespect and moralizing, contrasting it with China’s approach of treating Africans as partners.
To counter China’s growing influence and improve U.S.-Africa relations, Trump invited leaders from several African nations to the White House to discuss business opportunities, framing it as a diplomatic effort.
During the meeting, Trump asserted that the U.S. treats Africa better than China or anyone else.
When Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai expressed his desire for peaceful cooperation with the U.S., Trump seemed surprised by Boakai’s English proficiency.
Trump responded by praising Boakai’s “good English” and asked where he had learned to speak so well. He then remarked that some people at the table couldn’t speak as well.
The comment immediately sparked criticism.
A Liberian diplomat reportedly found the remark condescending. U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett described it as “peak ignorance” and accused Trump of being racist and embarrassing. She questioned whether such comments were appropriate for diplomacy.
English is the official language of Liberia, a country founded by the American Colonization Society to resettle freed slaves.
The White House defended Trump’s remark as a sincere compliment.
While Trump has consistently shown a fondness for English, even considering making it the official U.S. language, he has made similar comments about other people’s English before.
He previously complimented British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s accent.
In another instance, he struggled to understand an Indian reporter due to the accent.
He also praised an Afghan reporter’s “beautiful voice and a beautiful accent” while admitting he couldn’t understand her.
Trump also told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that he spoke “such good English.”
Linguistics researchers argue that perceptions of accents often reflect the listener’s biases rather than the speaker’s actual speech.
According to sociophonetician Nicole Holliday, negative perceptions of language varieties often target marginalized groups.
Nicole Rosen, a language interactions professor, suggests that attitudes toward foreign accents are influenced by social knowledge, potentially explaining Trump’s differing reactions to European leaders’ English versus that of South Asian and Middle Eastern journalists.
Rosen also points out that people tend to favor their own dialects.
This might explain Trump’s positive reaction to Boakai’s English and Boakai’s lack of offense.
Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti explained that Trump likely recognized the American influence on Liberian English and that the Liberian President was not offended by the remark.