Trump promises West African leaders a pivot to trade as the region reels from sweeping aid cuts

Associated Press ^ | July 9, 2025 | Monica Pronczuk and Darlene Superville

[mbrfl]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump promised West African leaders a pivot from aid to trade during a White House meeting Wednesday as the region reels from the impact of sweeping U.S. aid cuts.

Trump said he sees “great economic potential in Africa” as the leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau boasted of their countries’ natural resources and heaped praise on the U.S. president, including their thanks for his help in settling a long-running conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Trump described the nations represented at the meeting as “all very vibrant places with very valuable land, great minerals, and great oil deposits, and wonderful people” — a definite shift from his first term, when he used a vulgar term to describe African nations.

The meeting comes amid a shift in U.S. global and domestic priorities under Trump’s leadership. Earlier this month, U.S. authorities dissolved theU.S. Agency for International Development and said it was no longer following what they called “a charity-based foreign aid model” and instead would focus on partnerships with nations that show “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”

[mbrfl]

President Trump is a truly great and historic leader. But I have to admit some of his gaffes can be very cringeworthy. During the meeting he made a point of complimenting Liberia's president on his good English, apparently not realizing that English is the country's official language as it was founded by former American slaves. Oh well. No one's perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD1TsZrluFo

The moment takes place at approximately 15:45

[Jonty30]

Trade is the only thing that will work in the long term.

[Kleon]

Thats not a gaffe.

[mbrfl]

Of course it’s a gaffe.

[Dr. Sivana]

From perplexity.ai:

the way Liberian English sounds in everyday speech is quite distinct from American English.

Key differences include:

Pronunciation: Liberian English often drops final consonants (e.g., "dog" becomes "daw"), substitutes "th" with "t" or "f" (e.g., "think" becomes "tink", "bath" becomes "baf"), and sometimes deletes syllables in longer words.

Vocabulary: While some archaic American expressions remain (like "vexed" for angry), Liberian English also includes unique local words and expressions, as well as some British influences.

Grammar: The structure of sentences and use of articles and possessive pronouns often differ from standard American English, making the speech pattern unique and sometimes challenging for Americans to understand.

Intonation and Rhythm: Liberian English incorporates influences from local languages, which affect the melody and flow of speech, further distinguishing it from American English.

"Liberian English is quite distinct from British or American usage. It has some archaic American expressions held over from the 'pioneers' of the 1800s ... Pronunciation tends to drop the final consonant of words ... 'Th' is often pronounced like a 'T' ... At the end of a word, 'th' is often pronounced as an 'F'".

In summary, while Standard Liberian English is historically rooted in American English, the everyday spoken form—known as Liberian English or Liberian Colloquial English—sounds very different from American English due to changes in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary shaped by local influences. Most Americans would find Liberian English difficult to understand without prior exposure.

[God luvs America]

This is going to piss off the left- like welfare, “aid” is a way to keep them addicted to handouts...with trade they may become self sufficient...

[Kleon]

In what way is it a gaffe to say someone speaks English well? I point it out when they do because so many don’t.

[ComputerGuy]

You can bet that in every country, there is a ‘middle class’ living large on the US taxpayer.

[Fungi]

2 Thessalonians 3:10
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat’
Aid is only meant to keep you addicted to it, it does not promote self sufficiency.

[Texas Eagle]

DemonicRATS exulted in overwhelming glee thinking Trump was reviving the slave trade.

[chief lee runamok]

It's good to find out, billions of dollars later, that tax paying USA citizens
supported the entire planet.

[A_Former_Democrat]

And defended it too

I’m surprised there’s not an extra 5% in there just for national defense assessment

[catnipman]

“Trump described the nations represented at the meeting as “all very vibrant places” ...

let Trump personally visit each of these countries, and THEN see how “vibrant” he thinks they are ...

[jmacusa]

“Foreign aid is taking money from poor people in rich countries and giving it to rich people in poor countries.’’

[rfp1234]

Teach a man to fish…

[aquila48]

“Earlier this month, U.S. authorities dissolved theU.S. Agency for International Development and said it was no longer following what they called “a charity-based foreign aid model” and instead would focus on partnerships with nations that show “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.” “

That is the best thing that can be done to actually help Africa instead of addicting them to handouts.

Thats what we should do with American Africans, too.

[ComputerGuy]

Exactly. A form of wealth transfer.

[Wallace T.]

China and to some extent Russia are making great inroads in Africa. American and Western foreign policy has focused on economic relief and, at least under Obama and Biden, feminist and sexual degenerate goals. China offers trade deals such as infrastructure for mineral rights. Western countries, obsessed with environmental ideology, have not offered similar deals. Russia has helped insurgents overthrow pro-Western regimes.

President Trump is right in attempting to cultivate better relationships to prevent China and Russia from becoming hegemonic on that continent.

[SunkenCiv]

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