Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
July 10 , 2025
Washington - President Donald Trump reignited controversy on Wednesday after making off-the-cuff remarks during a meeting with Liberian President Joseph Boakai. In a press conference following the meeting, Trump complimented Boakai's fluency in English before adding, “Maybe it’s not such a shithole country after all.”
The comment drew immediate reactions from political figures, diplomats, and media outlets around the world. Though some supporters saw the remark as a crude attempt at praise, critics denounced it as another example of Trump’s pattern of using offensive language to describe African nations.
This is not the first time Trump has used controversial language when referring to African countries. In 2018, during a closed-door immigration meeting, he reportedly referred to Haiti and several African nations as “shithole countries” — a remark that sparked global outrage and condemnation.
In this latest episode, Trump was reportedly praising Boakai’s "very good English" and ability to “speak so well” when he made the now-viral quip.
President Boakai, who remained composed during the event, did not publicly respond to the remark. The Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later issued a brief statement emphasizing the strength of U.S.-Liberia relations and Liberia’s deep historical ties to the United States.
“President Boakai is committed to fostering mutual respect and cooperation between our two nations,” the statement read.
Democratic lawmakers quickly criticized Trump’s comments, calling them “disrespectful” and “emblematic of a deeper lack of understanding of international affairs.”
Kamala Harris tweeted: “This kind of language does not reflect American values or diplomacy. Africa is not a punchline.”
Republican leaders were more muted in their response, with some declining to comment and others, like Senator J.D. Vance, suggesting the remark was “in poor taste but not malicious.”
As Trump continues to dominate headlines during the 2024 election aftermath and flirt with a return to the political spotlight, incidents like this serve as reminders of his unique — and often divisive — style of communication. Whether this latest comment will have a lasting impact remains to be seen, but for now, it has once again placed him at the center of an international conversation about respect, race, and rhetoric.
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