That’s an excusable mistake, to be honest: really, how many of you knew that English is an official language of Liberia? So Trump heard an unexpectedly clean English speech and asked a question.
OK, I knew it already but let’s set that aside. How many of us are the president of the united states, purported “leader of the free world?” The responsibilities and expectations differ slightly.
right? this would be like if king charles went to a former colony and started gawking at how well the locals spoke english… there isn’t really a nice reading of the behavior.
I see people mentioning that Trump has staff to inform him of this etc etc, but I think it’s also pretty common knowledge that you don’t comment on someone’s grasp of a language unless you’re teaching them or it’s necessary. As a country of immigrants, Americans deal with a lot of immigrants, and that thought goes either way. You don’t mention a heavy accent or a lack of accent. I grew up around a lot of ESOL, and even if their English was impeccable, it’s quite othering and often condescending to have someone mention it. Some people don’t mind it, but always better to err on the side of caution. I understand this is not someone from the US, but they’re a foreign dignitary and there’s no need to say something that would even be perceived as condescending.
He’s supposed to have handlers around him to brief him on this stuff in advance, and keep him from saying stupid shit in the moment, but his handlers are just as ignorant as he is, so they’re no help.
That’s an excusable mistake, to be honest: really, how many of you knew that English is an official language of Liberia? So Trump heard an unexpectedly clean English speech and asked a question.
OK, I knew it already but let’s set that aside. How many of us are the president of the united states, purported “leader of the free world?” The responsibilities and expectations differ slightly.
I didn’t, but I’d have looked up some basic information about a country I’m dealing with in an official capacity if I was the PRESIDENT OF THE US.
Americans ought to know something about Liberia’s history.
History, America - in one sentence? You crazy?
The world was created 6000 years ago and we are the chosen ones. FULL STOP.
right? this would be like if king charles went to a former colony and started gawking at how well the locals spoke english… there isn’t really a nice reading of the behavior.
Any slightly below average intelligence president, who listens to staff briefings about the things they are about to do would know that.
I see people mentioning that Trump has staff to inform him of this etc etc, but I think it’s also pretty common knowledge that you don’t comment on someone’s grasp of a language unless you’re teaching them or it’s necessary. As a country of immigrants, Americans deal with a lot of immigrants, and that thought goes either way. You don’t mention a heavy accent or a lack of accent. I grew up around a lot of ESOL, and even if their English was impeccable, it’s quite othering and often condescending to have someone mention it. Some people don’t mind it, but always better to err on the side of caution. I understand this is not someone from the US, but they’re a foreign dignitary and there’s no need to say something that would even be perceived as condescending.
I mean, that’s exactly why presidents have staff to brief them on things.
He’s supposed to have handlers around him to brief him on this stuff in advance, and keep him from saying stupid shit in the moment, but his handlers are just as ignorant as he is, so they’re no help.
I suppose they just told him: “Dialog will be in English without an interpreter”. A completely adequate amount of information on the theme.
I did, and anyone else should too, especially the fucking President
Both you and trump seem to think of being POTUS similar to the way Scar approached his reign as king in The Lion King: “I can do whatever I want”.