Washington D.C. –– U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host leaders from five African nations for a White House lunch today, Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The presidents of Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon all located along Africa’s Atlantic Coast—are convening at Trump’s behest, with commerce and trade expected to feature prominently among a mixed agenda.
Officials from the invited countries have indicated to AFP that they anticipate discussions to center on trade, investment, and security, among other topics, as they gather in the executive mansion’s State Dining Room. However, the White House has released few concrete details regarding its intentions for the meeting.
The gathering occurs as the Trump administration continues its focus on tariffs and trade deals, while also seeking to ensure stable supplies of critical minerals globally. While the five nations attending today’s lunch do not possess the extreme mineral wealth of other African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, the emphasis on trade signals a broader U.S. strategy for economic engagement with the continent.
The meeting also takes place amidst growing competition in Africa, with U.S. rivals China and Russia making significant incursions into the region. Beijing has substantial investments in a number of African countries, while Moscow has lent support to the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These alliance states share borders with several of the nations present at Wednesday’s lunch.
Security and illicit drug trafficking are additional items expected on the White House agenda. Guinea-Bissau, often a transit zone for cocaine moving from Latin America to Europe, recently turned over four convicted Latin American drug smugglers to the U.S. DEA drug enforcement authority in April.
Shortly before his departure for Washington, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo described the visit as “very important” for his country. “Economically, this is a great opportunity opening for us,” he declared, adding his hope that his country would also benefit from “the support” the United States provides to other nations.
This approach aligns with the Trump administration’s stated shift away from what it terms a “charity-based model” for foreign aid.
Despite the high-profile nature of the meeting, few details have been released publicly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt merely stated at a Monday briefing that President Trump would “host leaders of five African nations for lunch” in the State Dining Room.
Unlike previous high-profile White House visits where leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have faced challenging public interactions with Trump, the five African presidents are not currently scheduled to appear before the press.
Adding a layer of complexity, Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal are among 36 nations the United States was reportedly considering adding to a travel ban barring entry to its territory, according to an internal administration memo last month. This potential policy, if pursued, could introduce friction into the discussions.
