Trump to Host African Leaders for Economic Talks Amid Aid Cuts

Mon Oct 20 2025 09:23:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The White House meeting aims to strengthen U.S. ties and mineral access while addressing concerns over reduced humanitarian support.

President Trump is set to host leaders from five African nations at the White House on Wednesday for discussions focused on economic investment. As part of his administration's revised trade strategy, the meeting is intended to foster partnerships that enhance U.S. access to crucial minerals while countering China's growing impact on the continent.

The leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal will join Trump for lunch in the State Dining Room, as part of the ongoing efforts to reshape the United States' economic relationship with Africa. A White House official highlighted the potential for collaboration in these nations, despite recent cuts to U.S. humanitarian aid—particularly significant for countries like Liberia, where U.S. aid comprises a notable percentage of its GDP.

In the backdrop of these discussions, concerns grow over potential travel restrictions affecting four of the five nations represented, with only Guinea-Bissau currently not being considered for a travel ban. This meeting follows a significant visit where Trump hosted diplomats from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign a peace agreement aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo, linked also to improving U.S. access to its mineral wealth.

Ambassador Troy D. Fitrell, a prominent State Department official, emphasized the administration's approach to prioritize commercial diplomacy in their foreign relations, equating it with over 70 secured commercial agreements in various sectors across Africa during Trump's second term. The meeting at the White House seeks to further advance these ambitions and strengthen U.S.-Africa relations.