An open letter of apology to the President of Liberia—and to the entire African continent
Ben Cable (Originally posted on Substack)
Dear President Joseph Boakai,
On behalf of the millions of Americans who still believe in dignity, respect, and basic geography, I write to say something our current president never will:
We’re sorry.
We’re sorry that during your state visit, a moment meant to deepen ties between two long-standing allies, President Donald J. Trump turned to you and, with his signature smirk of ignorance, asked, “How is it that you speak English so well?”
Our American President is either an idiot, a racist, or both.
You, Mr. President, stood there with the grace of a diplomat and the patience of a saint. But make no mistake: that wasn’t a compliment. It was a micro-aggression wrapped in a macro-embarrassment. A slap in the face to you, your nation, and to every African leader whose intelligence and sovereignty deserve more than cheap surprise from a man who’s never read a history book that didn’t mention himself.
A Dumb Question with Racist Roots
Let’s be honest. Trump’s “English” comment wasn’t just ignorant. It was racist steeped in a centuries-old colonialist view that assumes Africa is a monolithic, primitive land of wild animals, warlords, and “shithole countries,” as he once so eloquently in 2018.
And now, in 2025, he still hasn’t changed.
For those wondering: English is Liberia’s official language. In fact, Liberia was founded by freed American slaves. Its capital, Monrovia, is named after U.S. President James Monroe. This is literally a nation built in part by America, and yet our current president speaks to its leader as if he just walked off a missionary boat.
This wasn’t just an insult to Liberia. It was a casual degradation of an entire continent. The implication being: “You’re African. How could you possibly be articulate?”
The World Was Watching
The footage was shared on every major outlet. ABC News called it “another cringeworthy international gaffe”. The BBC labeled it “offensive ignorance masked as diplomacy.” The New York Times said flatly: “Trump seemed unaware that English is Liberia’s official language, a fact easily discoverable by a quick internet search—or a briefing memo, had he read one.”
Twitter/X lit up in outrage. #DearAfrica trended worldwide.
African leaders have generally maintained a diplomatic tone in public. But anonymous State Department sources have said that several ambassadors were “deeply offended” and “tired of being spoken to like colonial subjects.”
Honestly, who can blame them?
We Are Not All Trump
Mr. President, please know this: the man who insulted you does not represent all of us.
Millions of Americans are just as horrified as you must have been. We know Liberia is a sovereign democracy with a long and complex history, rich in culture and resilience. We admire your people. We value your partnership. And we understand the importance of mutual respect.
We also understand that this incident is bigger than a question about language. It’s about the kind of leadership we present to the world. When the leader of the free world can’t be bothered to learn the most basic facts about a visiting head of state, it says something profoundly broken about our system and dangerous about our future.
A National Embarrassment, Not a National Standard
President Trump’s defenders will call it “just a question.” They’ll say, “He didn’t mean it that way.” But intention doesn’t erase impact. Especially when the same man once said Nigerians would never “go back to their huts” after seeing America, or when he referred to immigrants from Africa and Haiti as people from “shithole countries.”
This is a pattern. It’s not new. And it’s not acceptable.
What We Can Do Now
We can’t unsay what was said. But we can speak louder.
- We can demand real diplomacy from our leaders, not showmanship built on stereotypes.
- We can teach our children that the world is filled with different voices, cultures, and histories, and all deserve equal respect.
- And we can vote. An American president who mocks, demeans, and embarrasses the country on the world stage has no business leading it.
To you, President Boakai, and to all our African allies: we will do better. We must do better.
Sincerely and ashamedly,
Citizen Ben
Writer, activist, and American citizen who believes in something better
