During a meeting with African leaders at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed surprise and admiration when Liberian President Joseph Boakai spoke fluent English. Despite English being Liberia's official language, Trump reportedly asked where Boakai learned to speak it so well. Boakai simply replied, "In Liberia, sir." Liberia was established in 1822 as a colony for freed African Americans, and while English is the official language, several indigenous languages are also spoken across the country.