Donald Trump has praised the president of Liberia for speaking “beautiful English,” the country’s official language.

Mr Trump welcomed the leaders of five West African nations to the White House on Wednesday for a summit on economic and security issues, where he pushed them to accept migrants deported by the US.

During the lunch, Mr Trump praised Joseph Boakai, Liberia’s president, for his grasp of the English language, asking how he learnt to speak so fluently.

“Such good English,” the US president said. “Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”

Mr Boakai chuckled politely in response, without mentioning that English is the national language of Liberia.

Pressed by Mr Trump on whether he was educated in his home country, Mr Boakai responded: “Yes sir.”

“That’s very interesting,” the US president replied. “I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well.”