U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed leaders from five West African nations, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, to the White House for a meeting and working lunch aimed at fostering trade and development partnerships. A White House official noted that the discussion was focused on business opportunities, and Trump confirmed these nations were unlikely to face U.S. tariffs amid his broader trade war. During the lunch, Trump praised the countries for their natural resources and vibrant cultures, saying they come from "very vibrant places with very valuable land, great oil deposits, and wonderful people." He also claimed U.S. efforts had helped resolve regional tensions, referencing a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed at the White House.
In a light-hearted but awkward exchange, Trump complimented Liberian President Joseph Boakai on his English, despite the fact that English is Liberia's official language. "Such good English," Trump said. "Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?" Boakai replied, "In Liberia?" to which Trump responded, "That's very interesting. I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well."
Gabon's President Brice Oligui Nguema emphasized the need for energy investment to help the country process its mineral wealth domestically. "We are not poor countries...But we need partners to support us and help us develop those resources with win-win partnerships," he said.
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye faye pitched investment in tourism, suggesting Trump could visit a local golf course. "The course would only be a six-hour flight from New York," he said.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced support for a mining project in Gabon, aimed at boosting local production and reducing dependency on imports. “DFC’s efforts... advance US economic interests by opening new markets,” said Conor Coleman, DFC’s head of investments.
Though these five countries represent a small share of U.S.-Africa trade, they hold vast untapped resources. At the same time, nations like Senegal and Mauritania play key roles in migration routes, while Guinea-Bissau faces drug trafficking challenges, issues that remain top concerns for the Trump administration.
However, African Union officials voiced skepticism over deepening trade ties under U.S. policies they consider “abusive,” citing harsh visa rules and proposed tariffs. U.S. Africa Envoy Troy Fitrell rejected accusations of unfair trade practices.
In a shift from traditional aid, U.S. authorities recently scrapped USAID's charity-based model in favor of supporting "nations that show both the ability and willingness to help themselves>" But a study published in The Lancet warned this change could cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030.
A broader summit with African leaders is expected to be announced soon, possibly aligning with the United Nations General Assembly in September.
