Bulwark Takes Trump Just Discovered Liberia Speaks English (w/ Holly Berkley Fletcher)
Jul 11, 2025
Holly Berkley Fletcher, a former CIA Africa analyst, joins to unpack Trump's unusual comments about Liberia and its language. They dive into Liberia's ties to America and explore the historical implications of its name. The conversation reveals humor in the misconceptions surrounding African languages while highlighting the complexities of U.S.-Africa relations. With playful banter, they critique geopolitical awareness and discuss the evolving dynamics of diplomacy, trade, and cultural perceptions in contemporary Africa.
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Trump Ignores Liberia's English
- Donald Trump displayed ignorance about Liberia, not knowing it speaks English despite its American historical ties.
- Holly Berkley Fletcher explained Liberia's founding by freed American slaves and its English usage, highlighting Trump's lack of preparation.
Liberia's American English Roots
- Liberia's official language is English, specifically American English due to its unique founding history.
- Liberia was established by freed American slaves and named referencing liberty, with its capital Monrovia named after President James Monroe.
Colonization Motivated by Racism
- Many 19th-century American slaveholders supported colonization in Africa to remove freed blacks from the US.
- This historical context explains the racial motivations behind Liberia's founding, complicating the irony regarding names like Monroe.