Featured Image Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, World News
James Moorhouse
Topics: Donald Trump, World News
Donald Trump has a frustrating habit of wanting to be the biggest man in the room and that can often lead to some horribly awkward moments.
The 79-year-old has hosted leaders from across the world since his return to the White House earlier this year, with his heated exchange with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy perhaps the primary example of how tactless the US president can often be, while JD Vance was busy questioning why the leader of the war-torn country couldn't wear a suit.
Trump also welcomed the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa back in May and surprised him with a video which he described as evidence of genocide in the nation.
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It seems obvious that international relations aren't top of Trump's priority list right now, given his tariffs also inspired a trade war with China, but his latest comment may well be the worst of a lot.
On Wednesday (9 July), Trump met with the leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau, all of whom lavished him with praise, despite an incredibly awkward and uneducated comment towards Liberian president Joseph Boakai.
He said: “Such good English. That’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
“Where? Were you educated? Where? In Liberia? Well, that’s very interesting. It’s beautiful English,” Trump continued as Boakai appeared to laugh politely. “I have people at this table can’t speak nearly as well.”
Well, perhaps that is no surprise, given that English is the official language of Liberia.
In fact, any geography fans out there will know that both the country’s constitution and flag are modelled after those of the United States, after it was founded by American Colonisation Society back in 1822.
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To ask a president if he was educated is also arguably pretty offensive too.
Unsurprisingly, this isn't the first time Trump has struggled to comprehend that people from other countries can speak English, as he has also made comments towards Indian and Afghan reporters in recent months.
During a press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said of a reporter: "I can’t understand a word he’s saying. It’s the accent. It’s a little bit tough for me to hear that."
He also told an Afghan reporter that she had a 'beautiful voice and a beautiful accent'.
“The only problem is I can’t understand a word you’re saying,” he added. “But I just say this — Good luck. Live in peace.”