
Trump shocked by Liberian president's English though it's the official language
Donald Trump went on about the president of Liberia's 'beautiful English' – despite it being the African nation's official language.
The US president seemed completely unaware about the national language while delivering what he intended to be an extended compliment to Liberian President Joseph Boakai.
Trump made his surprising remark after Boakai said during a meeting with other African leaders at the White House: 'We want to work with the United States in peace and security within the region and we are committed to that, and we just want to thank you so much for your support.'
'Well thank you, and such good English, that's beautiful,' Trump said, prompting laughs around the conference table.
'Where did you learn to speak so beautifully? Where were you educated? Where? In Liberia?'
Boakai replied: 'Yes.'
'That's very interesting. It's beautiful English,' Trump continued.
'I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well.'
Liberia was established in 1847 and many descendants of freed American slaves were sent to live there. Though more than 20 indigenous languages are spoken in the West African country, its capital was named after America's fifth president, James Monroe, who supported making it a state for freed slaves.
Boakai refrained from informing Trump about the official language during the lunch meeting with leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senega, on Wednesday afternoon.
It was not the first time that Trump has made a controversial comment about an African leader or country.
In May, Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with false claims that white Afrikaner farmers were genocide victims in a tense Oval Office meeting. Trump even told his staff to play a video of what he incorrectly said were the grave sites of more than 1,000 murdered white farmers.
Ramaphosa squirmed and calmly contested Trump's baseless claims, but avoided a heated argument and said he was there 'to reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa'.
Trump during his first term in 2018 also infamously called African nations and Haiti 's***hole countries' in a meeting with senators.
On Wednesday, Trump told leaders from the five African countries that the US's approach to the continent is 'shifting from aid to trade'. More Trending
'We're working tirelessly to forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations,' Trump said.
'There's great economic potential in Africa, like few other places.'
Trump has cut aid to African nations and left them staggering. American aid to Liberia made up 2.6% of its gross national income, which was the highest percentage for any country in the world, the Center for Global Development found.
The US president also urged his African counterparts to help crack down on immigrants overstaying their visas in America.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Baby girl mauled to death by family pit bull despite mum's desperate effort to stop attack
MORE: Leaked audio of Trump boasting he would 'bomb the s*** out of Moscow' if Putin invaded Ukraine
MORE: 'Anything to make Trump's ego grow', reader's discuss the US President and the Nobel Peace Prize

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NBC News
12 minutes ago
- NBC News
Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire talks
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted high level talks in Washington, Hamas said it would release 10 hostages held in Gaza in a bid reach a ceasefire deal to end 21 months of war in the Palestinian enclave. As part of its 'commitment to the success' of ongoing peace talks, the militant group said in a news release Wednesday that it would free the captives, although it cautioned that ongoing peace talks with Israel had been difficult. It did not say when the hostages would be freed. The announcement came as Netanyahu said discussions with President Donald Trump during two meetings in Washington had focused on freeing the hostages who remained held in Gaza. The latest data from Netanyahu's office published last month said 50 hostages remained in the enclave, 28 of whom were classified as dead. Netanyahu's visit came just over two weeks after Trump ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli airstrikes. The president then helped arrange a ceasefire after 12 days of fighting. Netanyahu, in a post on X, added that he had also discussed the potential implications — and possibilities — of the war with Iran with Trump, which he described as a "great victory." Trump said Wednesday that there was a 'very good chance' of a ceasefire deal being reached between Israel and Hamas, suggesting a truce could come as early as this or next week, but emphasized that nothing was guaranteed. His comments came as his administration moved to impose sanctions on United Nations Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who has been an outspoken critic of Israel's campaign in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X that Albanese was being sanctioned 'for her illegitimate and shameful efforts' to prompt International Criminal Court action against U.S. and Israeli 'officials, companies, and executives.' Albanese did not directly address the sanctions, but wrote in a post on X she wrote, 'Just to be sure, on this day more than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done.' The possibility of a pause in fighting in Gaza comes after months of failed efforts to secure a deal. A previous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended in March brought around two months of relative calm to the enclave and saw 33 hostages freed in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Since then Israel has ramped up its military campaign in Gaza where more than 57,000 people, including thousands of children, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023, according to health officials in the enclave. Some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 kidnapped in the Hamas-led attacks that day, marking a major escalation in a descadeslong conflict. As talks to secure another ceasefire have go on, Israel has continued to strike Gaza from the air and launched ground assaults in the enclave. Israel has been accused of genocide in its offensive in Gaza by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, and in a case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice.


Metro
16 minutes ago
- Metro
Here's how the government wants to tackle illegal migration with France
Plenty of big issues have been on the table during Emmanuel Macron's state visit this week, but one looms over all: the small boats crisis. The French President has been locked into discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the past two days to find a solution that will keep all sides happy. After a final round of talks today, it is thought the two leaders will announce an agreement centred on a 'one in, one out' policy for migrants. That will mean for every small-boat migrant who is sent back to the continent, an asylum seeker with a genuine link to the UK would be brought over. While this would initially mean no change in the number of people arriving in the UK, it's hoped migrants would be deterred from making the trip if they think there's a chance they won't get to stay. However, reports suggest the plans would start small. Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here. According to French newspaper Le Monde, around 50 migrants a week would be swapped at first – meaning only a fraction of small boat arrivals would be sent back under the deal. More than 21,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats from France so far in 2025, the highest number ever for this point in the year. At the current rate of crossings, just one in 17 migrants arriving in the UK would be returned if the '50 per week' figure proves accurate. Citing a government source, the Times reported that the scheme would be scaled up once the 'proof of concept' had been demonstrated. The 'one in, one out' approach has been criticised by several other EU countries, including Italy, Spain and Greece, due to concerns it could lead to them having to take in people who have been returned to the Continent. Meanwhile, Macron has been asking the UK to address the 'pull factors' that lead migrants to attempt the dangerous journey across the sea in the first place. Starmer scrapped Conservative plans for migrants to be sent to Rwanda soon after the election, instead placing focus on 'smashing the gangs' that charge thousands to sail people to England in flimsy vessels. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In the first year of his government, he has announced a number of deals with countries including Vietnam and Albania to tackle what is formally called irregular migration. More Trending But the increased number of arrivals so far this year suggests this technique is not yet bearing fruit. Macron and Starmer will hold a press conference to discuss the outcome of today's summit this afternoon. A Downing Street spokesperson said yesterday: 'The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Lawyer 'killed himself' after defending 'worst paedophile who ever lived' MORE: Labour's welfare reform bill passes Commons despite 47-strong rebellion MORE: British jogger run over and killed in front of husband while on holiday in France


The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
The foods that you didn't know could lower your blood pressure
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. We're constantly told to 'eat healthy' – but what does that actually mean? Even doctors sometimes struggle to offer clear, practical advice on which specific foods support health, why they work and what real benefits people can expect. A growing body of research is starting to offer some answers. Along with colleagues, I have researched whether a group of plant compounds called flavan-3-ols could help lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel function. The results suggest these everyday compounds may have real potential for protecting heart health. Flavan-3-ols – sometimes called flavanols or catechins – are natural plant compounds that belong to the flavonoid family. They're part of what gives plants their colour and helps protect them from sunlight and pests. For us, they show up in some of our most familiar foods: cocoa, green and black tea, grapes, apples and even some berries. That slightly tart or bitter note you taste in dark chocolate or strong tea? That's flavan-3-ols at work. Scientists have long been interested in their health effects. In 2022, the Cosmos trial (Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study), which followed over 21,000 people, found that cocoa flavanols, but not multivitamin supplements, reduced deaths from cardiovascular disease by 27 per cent. Our study set out to dig even deeper, focusing specifically on their effects on blood pressure and endothelial function (how well blood vessels dilate and respond to blood flow). A cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit could actually be good for you (Getty Images/iStockphoto) We analysed data from 145 randomised controlled trials involving more than 5,200 participants. These studies tested a range of flavan-3-ol-rich foods and supplements, including cocoa, tea, grapes, apples and isolated compounds like epicatechin, and measured their effects on two key cardiovascular markers: blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation (FMD): a measure of how well the inner lining of blood vessels functions. The studies ranged from short-term (a single dose) to longer-term interventions lasting weeks or months. On average, participants consumed about 586 mg of flavan-3-ols daily; roughly the amount found in two to three cups of tea, one to two servings of dark chocolate, two tablespoons of cocoa powder, or a couple of apples. Regular consumption of flavan-3-ols led to an average drop in office blood pressure of 2.8 mmHg systolic (the top number) and 2.0 mmHg diastolic (the bottom number). But for people who started with elevated blood pressure or diagnosed hypertension, the benefits were even greater with reductions of up to 6–7 mmHg systolic and 4 mmHg diastolic. That's comparable to the effects of some prescription blood pressure medications and could significantly lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. We also found that flavan-3-ols improved endothelial function, with an average 1.7per cent increase in FMD after sustained intake. This benefit appeared even in participants whose blood pressure was already normal, suggesting these compounds may help protect blood vessels through multiple pathways. Side effects were uncommon and typically mild, usually limited to minor digestive issues, suggesting that adding flavan-3-ol-rich foods to your diet is generally safe. Flavan-3-ol can help to lower your blood pressure (PA Archive) Supporting cardiovascular health While the benefits were most pronounced in those with high blood pressure, even people with normal readings saw improvements in vascular function. This suggests flavan-3-ols may help prevent cardiovascular problems before they begin. High blood pressure is one of the major drivers of heart disease worldwide, even at levels that don't qualify as full-blown hypertension (140/90 mmHg or higher). Recent guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology now recognise that even 'elevated' blood pressure (120–139 systolic and 70–89 diastolic) carries increased risk. Lifestyle changes, particularly diet and exercise, are recommended by doctors as first-line strategies. But patients and even healthcare providers often lack clear, specific guidance on which foods truly make a difference. Our findings help fill this gap by showing that boosting flavan-3-ol intake through everyday foods may offer a simple, evidence-based way to support cardiovascular health. What about supplements? Some studies tested supplements or isolated flavan-3-ol compounds, but these generally showed smaller effects than whole foods like tea or cocoa. This may be because other beneficial compounds in whole foods work together, enhancing absorption and effectiveness. At present, it appears both safer and more effective to focus on getting flavan-3-ols from foods rather than high-dose supplements, especially for people taking medications, since interactions are not fully understood. Apples are high in flavan-3-ol (Getty Images / iStock) The studies we reviewed suggest that 500–600 mg of flavan-3-ols daily may be enough to see benefits. You could reach this by combining two to three cups of green or black tea, one to two servings (about 56g) of dark chocolate or two to three tablespoons of cocoa powder, two to three apples, plus other flavan-3-ol-rich fruits like grapes, pears and berries. Small daily swaps, then, like trading a sugary snack for an apple and a piece of dark chocolate or adding an extra cup of tea, could gradually improve your heart health over time. Because flavan-3-ol content can vary between foods, monitoring your blood pressure at home may help you see if it's making a difference for you. More research is needed, particularly in people with diabetes, where the results were less consistent. We also need to better understand how flavan-3-ols interact with medications and whether even greater benefits can be achieved when combined with other healthy habits. But the evidence is now strong enough to recommend flavan-3-ol-rich foods as part of a heart-healthy diet. As clinicians seek practical, affordable lifestyle strategies for patients, these findings bring us closer to the idea of using food as medicine. Of course, flavan-3-ols aren't a magic fix. They won't replace medication for everyone. But combined with other healthy habits, they may offer a meaningful – and delicious – boost to cardiovascular health. And unlike many health fads, this isn't about exotic superfoods or expensive powders. It's about foods many of us already enjoy, used a little more intentionally. Christian Heiss is a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Head of Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article