5 issues Trump ought to know and why they communicate 'good English'

[ad_1] Moses Kollie Garzeawu & Wycliffe Muia BBC Information, Monrovia & Nairobi

Watch: Trump praises Liberian president's English, the nation's official language

US President Donald Trump has praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for talking "good English" and requested him the place he went to high school.

What Trump might need missed is that Liberia shares a singular and long-standing reference to the US.

English is the nation's official language and plenty of Liberians communicate with an American accent due to these historic ties to the US.

It might have been this accent that Trump picked up on.

Listed below are 5 issues to know in regards to the West African nation:

Based by freed slaves

Liberia was based by freed African-American slaves in 1822 earlier than declaring independence in 1847.

1000's of black People and liberated Africans - rescued from transatlantic slave ships - settled in Liberia through the colonial period.

Former US President Abraham Lincoln formally declared Liberia's independence in 1862 however the nation retained quite a lot of US heritage and it remained within the American "sphere of affect" through the colonial interval.

Attributable to this integration, Liberian tradition, landmarks and establishments have a powerful African-American affect.

Ten of Liberia's 26 presidents had been born within the US.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0768/live/8f467bc0-5d85-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="AFP/Getty Images Former US President George W Bush wearing a black suit reaching out to dancers who are wearing traditional attire and holding Liberian flags " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP/Getty Photos Liberia shares a long-standing historic reference to the US and a number of other American presidents, together with George W Bush, have visited the nation

The descendants of those freed slaves, generally known as Americo-Liberians, dominated the nation for greater than 100 years.

This was resented by some indigenous Liberians and the final president from that neighborhood, William Tolbert, was overthrown and killed in a coup in 1980.

They account for a couple of quarter of the inhabitants, in response to the Britannica web site, which says greater than two dozen languages are spoken within the nation.

President Boakai is from the Kissi ethnic group and so would have spoken that as his mom tongue, earlier than studying English at college.

The capital is known as after a former US president

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/386a/live/48437040-5d88-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A view of a busy street in Monrovia - with many cars and shops " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Some streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures

Liberia's capital, Monrovia, was named in honour of America's fifth President, James Monroe, who was a powerful supporter of the American Colonization Society (ACS).

The ACS was the organisation accountable for resettling freed African-People in West Africa - which ultimately led to the founding of Liberia.

Not surprisingly the early structure of town was largely influenced by American-style buildings.

Many streets in Monrovia are named after colonial American figures, reflecting town's founding and historic ties to the US.

Town's principal hospital is known as the John F Kennedy Medical Middle (JFKMC), named after the previous US president.

Almost similar flags

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5cf9/live/0c9a66b0-5d8e-11f0-a6b8-21ace6496903.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP/Getty Images Former US President George W Bush and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf walk past Liberian and US flags in February 2008." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP/Getty Photos There's a putting resemblance between the flags of the 2 international locations

The flag of Liberia carefully resembles the American flag. It options 11 alternating crimson and white stripes and a blue sq. with a single white star.

The white star symbolises Liberia as the primary impartial republic in Africa.

The US flag, as compared, has 13 stripes representing the unique 13 colonies and 50 stars, one for every state.

The Liberian flag was designed by seven black ladies - all born in America.

Ex-president's son performs for US soccer group

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f7db/live/88fc2540-5d9d-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images President Donald Trump wearing a suit and a yellow ties shakes hands with Timothy Weah, wearing white jumper in the Oval Office - 18 June 2025." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Timothy Weah, seen right here shaking palms with President Donald Trump final month, performs for Juventus in Italy

Timothy Weah, the son of Liberia's former President George Weah, is an American skilled soccer participant who performs for Italian soccer membership Juventus in addition to the US nationwide group.

The 25-year-old ahead was born within the US however started his skilled profession with Paris St-Germain in France, the place he gained the Ligue 1 title earlier than transferring on mortgage to the Scottish group, Celtic.

His father, George, is a Liberian soccer legend who gained the Ballon d'Or in 1995 whereas taking part in for Juventus's Italian rivals AC Milan. He's the one African winner of this award - and went on to be elected president in 2018.

Former president gained the Nobel Peace Prize

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4003/live/d714ded0-5d88-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A close-up of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wearing an African glasses and and an African headscarf" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served because the twenty fourth president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018

Liberia produced Africa's first elected feminine president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

She was elected in 2005, two years after the nation's bloody civil conflict ended, and served as president till 2018.

Johnson Sirleaf has a powerful American background as she studied at Madison Enterprise Faculty and later went to Harvard College the place she graduated as an economist.

She has obtained worldwide recognition and accolades for sustaining peace throughout her administration.

Her story is pitted with exceptional feats of defiance and braveness.

In 2011, together with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karmān, she gained the Nobel Prize for Peace for her efforts to additional ladies's rights.

In 2016, Forbes listed her among the many strongest ladies on the planet.

What do Liberians make of Trump's feedback?

International Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti denied it was a clumsy second, saying there was a "lack of know-how" all over the world in regards to the languages individuals communicate in Africa, which she described as a "multi-lingual continent".

"Liberia occurs to have the American-English intonation and I imagine President Trump heard one thing acquainted in the best way President Boakai spoke, which is totally different from the best way others communicate on the continent," she informed the BBC's Newsday programme.

"We weren't offended in any respect," she mentioned, including that away from the TV cameras, there was a dialogue of the 2 international locations' shared historical past.

However there was a blended response amongst different Liberians.

Accountant Joseph Manley, 40, informed the BBC that Trump ought to have been correctly briefed earlier than assembly Liberia's chief.

"Liberia has all the time been an English-speaking nation. Our president represents a rustic with a wealthy academic custom."

For human sources skilled Henrietta Peter-Mogballah, the US president's shock at Boakai's eloquence displays a broader downside about international ignorance with regard to African nations and its peoples.

"From journey experiences and observations, most residents of different nations exterior Africa have no idea loads about African international locations," she mentioned. "The few that know just a little, their minds are clouded by narratives of conflict, poverty, and lack of schooling."

Nevertheless lawyer and politician Kanio Gbala agreed with the international minister that there was no insult meant.

"I imagine President Trump's comment was a real praise on President Boakai's command of English," he informed the BBC. "There isn't a proof of sarcasm. Studying it as disrespectful could replicate political agendas."

Extra about Liberia from the BBC:

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos/BBC [ad_2] Source link