U.S. President Donald Trump recently praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for his “good English,” a comment that underscores the deep and often overlooked historical ties between the United States and the West African nation. English is Liberia’s official language, and many of its citizens speak with a distinct American accent rooted in this shared history—a nuance that may have caught Trump’s attention.
The incident highlights several unique aspects of Liberia’s relationship with the U.S.
### 1: Founded by freed slaves
Liberia was established in 1822 by freed African-American slaves and declared its independence in 1847. During the colonial era, thousands of formerly enslaved Black Americans and liberated Africans rescued from transatlantic slave ships settled there. The United States, under President Abraham Lincoln, officially recognized Liberia’s independence in 1862, and the nation remained within the American sphere of influence.
This history has left a lasting legacy on Liberian culture, with many landmarks and institutions reflecting a strong African-American influence. Ten of Liberia’s 26 presidents were born in the U.S. The descendants of these settlers, known as Americo-Liberians, dominated the country’s politics for over a century until President William Tolbert was overthrown and killed in a 1980 coup, an event fueled by resentment from some indigenous groups. Today, Americo-Liberians constitute about a quarter of the population. President Boakai is from the indigenous Kissi ethnic group and learned English after his mother tongue.
### 2: The capital is named after a former U.S. president
Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, is named in honor of James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president and a prominent supporter of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which organized the resettlement of freed slaves in West Africa. The city’s early architecture was heavily influenced by American design, and many streets bear the names of colonial American figures. Further reflecting this connection, the city’s main hospital is the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC).
### 3: Nearly identical flags
The Liberian flag bears a striking resemblance to that of the United States, featuring eleven alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton with a single white star. Designed by seven American-born Black women, the flag’s lone star symbolizes Liberia as Africa’s first independent republic. In contrast, the U.S. flag has thirteen stripes for the original colonies and fifty stars representing each state.
### 4: Ex-president’s son plays for U.S. football team
Timothy Weah, son of former Liberian President and football legend George Weah, is a professional soccer player for the U.S. national team. Born in the United States, the 25-year-old forward currently plays for the Italian club Juventus. His father, George Weah, is the only African player to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, an award he received in 1995 while playing for AC Milan, before being elected president of Liberia in 2018.
### 5: Former president won the Nobel Peace Prize
Liberia is home to Africa’s first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who served as president from 2006 to 2018. Taking office just two years after the end of a bloody civil war, Sirleaf is credited with maintaining peace and stability throughout her tenure. Her background includes studies at Madison Business College and a degree in economics from Harvard University. In 2011, she was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her work advancing women’s rights, and in 2016, Forbes named her one of the world’s most powerful women.
### 6: World’s largest rubber plantation
Liberia hosts the world’s largest contiguous rubber plantation, a 185-square-mile estate owned by Firestone Liberia, a subsidiary of the U.S. tire company. Established in 1926 to secure an American-controlled source of rubber, the plantation remains Liberia’s largest private employer with over 4,000 workers.
The company has faced allegations of human rights abuses. A 2006 UN report on Liberia’s rubber industry cited hazardous working conditions, unfair wages, and the use of child labor. Firestone has consistently denied these claims and was cleared of child labor charges by a U.S. court in 2011. Rubber continues to be one of Liberia’s primary exports, with the U.S. as its largest market.
### Liberian reactions to Trump’s comments
Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti said the exchange was not awkward, attributing it to a global “lack of understanding” about Africa’s linguistic diversity. “Liberia happens to have the American-English intonation, and I believe President Trump heard something familiar in the way President Boakai spoke,” she told the BBC, adding, “We were not offended at all.”
Reactions among other Liberians were mixed. Accountant Joe Manley, 40, suggested Trump should have been better briefed, stating, “Liberia has always been an English-speaking country. Our president represents a country with a rich educational tradition.”
Human resources professional Henrietta Peters Magbollah saw the comment as symptomatic of a wider issue. “Most citizens of other nations outside Africa do not know a lot about African countries,” she said. “The few that know a little, their minds are clouded by narratives of war, poverty, and lack of education.”
However, lawyer and politician Kanio Gbala viewed the remark as sincere. “I believe President Trump’s remark was a genuine compliment on President Boakai’s command of English,” he said. “There is no evidence of sarcasm. Reading it as disrespectful may reflect political agendas.”
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