Next week, US President Donald Trump is gearing up for a spectacle at the White House – a lunch with five African leaders! Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal are coming to Washington to discuss trade opportunities. The Trump administration has already cut a large portion of US aid to Africa, deeming it useless and out of sync with the ‘America First’ policy. Instead of handouts, African countries are now expected to show the will and ability to help themselves. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clearly stated that the US is abandoning the aid model based on charity and will favor countries that demonstrate the capacity and willingness to help themselves. This new strategy focuses on trade and investment rather than outright aid. But is this really a fresh start or just another Trump show? While numerous US envoys prepare to assess existing trade agreements with Africa, the question remains – will this policy bring real benefits to the American people and African partners, or will it be yet another example of big talk with no action? Trump claims African countries offer ‘incredible trade opportunities,’ but will this materialize, or will Africa remain on the sidelines of US foreign policy? Either way, this White House lunch on July 9 could mark the beginning of a new era or just another political farce. What do you think? Is this a chance for Africa or just another Trump marketing campaign? Feel free to drop a comment – maybe together we can uncover what’s really going on behind the scenes!
