Furious Africa Destroys Trump as Meeting Backfires

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2:58Ben Meiselas:The entire continent of Africa and all of the countries within it are absolutely furious at the Trump regime. You're not going to hear this reporting on the corporate news in the United States, but it is critical that you know this because Africa has critical resources like critical rare earth minerals. Africa has a booming tech sector. Africa has a lot of natural resources, and frankly, it has great people. But for Donald Trump, he doesn't have any understanding of what's even happening in Africa. One of the first moves the Trump regime did was to basically take out all of the aid that the United States was providing to Africa through USAID.

3:36Ben Meiselas:The Trump regime recently on Friday cut 1 ,300 jobs in the State Department, shuttering our diplomacy within Africa. And Donald Trump just thinks he can do what he did in the last week and a half, where he brings in the five African leaders, and then he thinks that he can just charm them. And remember, the president of Liberia was speaking, and Donald Trump interrupted President Boakai from Liberia. And Donald Trump's like, where did you learn to speak such good English? You speak better English than people who speak English here in the United States. And Liberia's President Boakai said, I learned to speak it in Liberia because, and the president of Liberia didn't humiliate Donald Trump in public, but Liberia's national language is English.

4:21Ben Meiselas:Donald Trump may want to look about how Liberia was founded and its roots. You would think the president of the United States would know basic things like that, but not Donald Trump. Now, Donald Trump is getting excoriated throughout all of the media and newspapers in Africa. The people there in all of the countries in Africa looking at Donald Trump like he is an absolute ignorant idiot, and they know that he's a threat to Africa. NTV, which is the largest media house in East and Central Africa owned by Aga Khan, they've been putting out pieces that I'm going to share with you right now. And also you're seeing this in Xinhua News in China, parroting what you're about to see in NTV, Kenya and NTV and all of their ownership of properties throughout Africa.

5:11Ben Meiselas:And Africa is turning to China and unfortunately turning to Russia as the United States turns away from Africa. Donald Trump didn't charm the five African leaders. Donald Trump just showed the people of Africa that Donald Trump knows nothing about the continent and the countries within it. This from NTV Kenya. U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks about Liberian President Joseph Boakai's good English has drawn widespread criticism across Africa, with many decrying the comments as condescending and reflective of ignorance about the comment. China's Xinhua News says something similar. Donald Trump's recent remarks about Liberian President Joseph Buakai's good English has drawn the widespread criticism.

5:58Ben Meiselas:It's not a mistake or coincidence that those two, that China's propaganda, Xinhua News, is aligned with NTV Kenya and NTV throughout Africa. Let me just show you what they're saying in Africa, so you just have a sense of it. Trump's good English remarks fuel on an offline furor across Africa. It goes on to talk about what Donald Trump said. And then it said, The innocuous-looking commendation emerged on Wednesday during Trump's White House meeting about the beautiful language that they speak. And then many are expressing indignation and disappointment with Trump's comments. People from Africa online and offline have been vocal on various platforms.

6:42Ben Meiselas:And African leaders have been very vocal because, of course, English is the official language of Liberia, a nation founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves. Quote, it is disappointing that a world leader would be so unaware of the official language of a country with such deep historical ties to the U.S., wrote Sam Yates, a Liberian living in Nigeria on Facebook. Does Trump think we only speak jungle languages? English is taught in schools across Africa, often to a very high standard. We didn't go to Washington for an English speaking competition. We went for substantive discussions on mutual development and partnership, Yates opined, and others reacted angrily to a lingering stereotype that even though colonial history established English, French, and Portuguese as official language in much of Africa, Africans are still not expected to speak them fluently.

7:38Ben Meiselas:Some people link Trump's comments to broader issues of Western perceptions of Africa, arguing that the remarks underscored a tendency among some Westerners to view Africa through a lens of aid dependency or cultural exoticism rather than as a continent with diverse modern societies and highly educated populations. And again, what I'm reading for you right now is the largest independent news source in Africa. Quote, this is not a compliment. It is an insult thinly veiled as praise. It shows a fundamental lack of understanding and respect for African intellect and education, wrote Richard Donaker, an ex-user from Ghana.

8:19Ben Meiselas:Fude Masakiyo, chairman of Liberia's Opposition Congress for Democratic Change Council at Patriots, said the focus of the White House meeting was misdirected, describing Trump's remarks as disrespectful. He also noted the U.S. leader's lack of respect for African leaders. President Trump was condescending. He was very disrespectful to the African leader, and this proves that the West is not taking us seriously as Africans, said Masakiyo. Earlier this year, Lawal Sali, a global affairs analyst in the Nigerian capital, alerted African leaders to Trump's often unconventional communication style during scheduled meetings with foreign leaders.

8:59Ben Meiselas:He reiterated the sentiment in a Facebook post on Thursday, saying the Liberian leader was belittled by Trump. I had earlier cautioned the African leaders planning to meet Trump that they should prepare for this kind of encounter. It's so embarrassing and so belittling. While the online furor continues with demands for equal respect and accurate understanding of African nations on the global stage, a group of Liberian citizens planning a hero's welcome at the airport when Boakai returns on Friday to just show him, hey, we're glad that you even went there and you even tried. I want to show you some data points as well, because when you look deeper into, you know how Donald Trump's been bragging that he's responsible for a ceasefire between Congo and Rwanda, and he said that he was the one who did this, and he talked about all of the great work that he did in a Congo-Rwanda deal.

9:58Ben Meiselas:Let me first remind you that on April 17th, 2025, Donald Trump said he did not know what the Congo even was. He says no one's ever heard of this country. Here, play this clip. People that were in jail for horrible, you know, they released jails, Georgia, from all over the world. They released them, not just South America, all over the world, the Congo and Africa. Many, many people come from the Congo. I don't know what that is, but they came from the Congo and all over the world. They came in, opened their jails, Venezuela, practically all of their prisoners released into our country. We took them because we had an incompetent administration called the Biden administration.

10:41And to think what they've done to our country. And I was elected to straighten that out. And I'm doing that. But we have activist judges that don't want murderers to be sent out of our country. They don't want killers and drug dealers and drug lords and people from mental institutions. They want them to stay in our country, I guess. I don't know.

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11:51Ben Meiselas:And the best part, Chapter's help is completely free, completely free. There's no sales pressure, no pushing plans you don't need, just real advice that puts you first. People save an average of$1 ,100 by using Chapter. So if you're turning 65 soon or are already on Medicare, call them up at 82 Medicare. You won't regret it. Most people just wish they'd call sooner. Once again, give them a call. That's 8-2-MEDICARE, 82-MEDICARE. Give them a call. Most people wish that they'd call sooner. Call 82-MEDICARE. So then what was his fascination about a deal between Congo and Rwanda? Well, first off, he had no clue about it or what was even happening.

12:42Ben Meiselas:But second, he viewed it as a way to steal the rare earth minerals of the Congo and of Rwanda. So here he is on, this was like three weeks ago, where he's saying that we're getting for the U.S. a lot of mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. So Trump viewed, let's do a deal and then let's steal the minerals from the Congo. As you know, a country he knows nothing about. Here, play this clip. I have a signing with Rwanda and the Congo. So I'm a little out of my league in that one because I didn't know too much about it. I knew one thing. They were going at it for many years and with machetes.

13:20It is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone's ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled. I mean, just a brilliant person who is very comfortable in that part of the world. It's a very dangerous part of the world. They said, are you uncomfortable there? People are being killed. Schoolchildren are being raided and killed. And I don't even want to say how, but as viciously as I've ever heard. Are you uncomfortable? No, that's the part of the world that I know. Very comfortable. Was able to get them together and sell it. And not only that, we're getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it.

13:58They're so honored to be here. They never thought they'd be coming. Look, this is a very tough part of the world. They never thought, they were just telling me, they never thought they'd ever be coming to the White House. And they're so honored. And so we're going to give them a great big reception. But that's after many years of fighting.

14:13Ben Meiselas:Now, a day before that press conference I just showed you, Donald Trump was asked about the details about the Congo-Rwanda deal and the various groups and factions and what deal, like, who are you making the deal with, Donald? He had no clue who the, who was, who was in control of Congo, who was in control of Rwanda. Just watch him have no clue. And he just like punts the question. Here, play this clip. Mr. President, there are a few unanswered questions that remain in this deal. For example, will Rwandan troops pull back from parts of the DR Congo? And also, will the M23 rebel group be allowed to remain in parts of eastern DR Congo?

14:56Do you have any answers to those questions? Well, let me ask you that question. Do you want to answer that one? It sounds like an interesting question for you. Go ahead. Thank you very much. in the agreement we signed, we have taken the concept of operation for the neutralization of the FDLR, which is a vicious genocidal movement, and the lifting of run and defensive measures. So this was already signed last year in November. So we will implement it, this concept of operation to do both things, to neutralize.

15:27Ben Meiselas:So you may also be saying, well, then why do you have those leaders over? He had the leaders over because it was clear that America, when we pulled out all of our USAID and with our State Department cuts, Donald Trump believes he alone can fix it. And as long as he brings over the African leaders and sits them there and praises their ability to speak English, that's all that he needs. What's actually happening is China is doing what the United States used to do. So the way the United States did USAID, China is doing bridges and roads as part of its new Silk Road program, and it is investing in Africa.

16:08Ben Meiselas:It's building the state houses and capital buildings and bridges and roads and ports and medicine, and it is infusing huge amounts of money. But here's what Donald Trump thinks he can do. He He just thinks he can say, we treat Africa far better than China and that that's just enough. Here, play this clip. Does this move by China influence your thinking, your approach to tariffs on the continent? Well, we treat Africa great in many different ways, including with tariffs. But, you know, parts of Africa charge us tremendous tariffs, as you know, and they're going to be dropping those tariffs. They've already informed me they're going to be dropping those tariffs.

16:49But we treat Africa far better than China or anybody else, any place else.

16:55Ben Meiselas:And I think James Wood has a pretty good analysis of this, of Trump's comment. We treat Africa better than China. Trump's new pitch, minus the memory. Donald Trump just hosted the presidents of five African nations. And he said, and as James Wood says, these are bold words from a man whose track record says the exact opposite. it. Let's take a short walk down memory lane. Trump has never set foot in Africa during his first term, and he hasn't again. He slashed foreign aid and wound down USAIDs on the ground operation. Liberia alone lost aid worth 2.6 % of its entire GDP, the highest USAID share of any country.

17:39Ben Meiselas:He once described African nations along with Haiti as shithole countries. And now his administration is weighing travel bans on four of the five countries who just attended that summit. So why the charm offensive now? And the answer of the charm offensive is resources. And the reality is, is China is getting these resources and China is withholding the rare earth minerals from the United States. From lithium and cobalt to manganese, gold, iron, ore, these minerals are essential for tech, defense, and clean energy, and China's already way ahead of securing them. Gabon has over$4.3 billion in Chinese investment deals.

18:23Ben Meiselas:Guinea-Bissau's only highway built by China. China's infrastructure, political ties, and investment footprint stretch across the continent with no lectures or deportation demands attached. Trump, meanwhile, spent the summit pushing safe third country deportation deals, immigration enforcement cooperation, and asking African leaders to help round up visa overstayers in the U.S. He also bizarrely expressed shock that Liberia's president spoke fluent English, despite English being Liberia's official language in the country being founded by free American slaves. As Trump pitched a shift from aid to trade, His team quietly announced U.S.

19:05Ben Meiselas:support for a potash mine in Gabon through the DFC, a nod to what is really all about strategic extraction dressed up as diplomacy. And here's just to remind you what Donald Trump said to the Liberia president. Let's play it right here. Well, thank you. It's such good English. Such beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully? Were you educated where? in Liberia. Yes, sir. That's very interesting. It's beautiful English. Sure. I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well. So, I mean, I think that track record speaks for itself. You can tell me what you think, but that's why we see Africa turning right now to China and turning to Russia.

19:54Ben Meiselas:You know, and I think, especially as it relates to Russia, there's a big Russia problem that I'll just explain to you as well right now that I think is deeply concerning too. And let me pull it up right here for you. Russia is expanding its propaganda network in Africa. State media tasks the Russian propaganda and RT television are being used to spread the narratives of the occupying state. Russian propaganda is now broadcast in over 40 African countries in six languages. Hostile media recently infiltrated Angola and Mozambique. Broadcasting is scheduled to begin in Ethiopia by the end of the year.

20:34Ben Meiselas:RT's presence on the continent is growing. In just two years, the number of African partner channels has increased from 30 to 60. Russian TV also runs training programs for local journalists. In 2024, over 1 ,000 media workers were trained according to Russian standards. A full-time training program has also been running in Addis Ababa since June 2025. Such programs are expected to be expanded to other countries. The TAS News Agency is also actively expanding its networks in Africa and plans to open correspondent offices in Ethiopia, Senegal, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, and other African countries.

21:18Ben Meiselas:Recruitment of staff for these propaganda centers will be carried out under the control of the Russian federal security services. So as the U.S. is gutting programs that spread U.S. messaging, other countries are coming in right now. It's just the next step. Be aware of what's happening. Anyway, hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. New Mitest merch drop. Check out the latest pro-democracy sticker packs, T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more, all at store.midastouch.com. Summer's full of reasons to look your best. Tecovis has everything you need to show up in style. Their Western boots are handcrafted in over 200 steps by hand with premium cowhide and exotic leathers.

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