Washington, D.C. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host leaders from five African countries at the White House next week, with a focus on exploring what the administration calls “commercial opportunities” that align with its America First agenda.
The high-level meeting, scheduled for July 9, will feature discussions and a working lunch with the heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, a White House official confirmed.
“President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities that benefit both the American people and our African partners,” the official stated, underlining the administration’s strategic pivot from aid to trade.
Reports from Africa Intelligence and Semafor indicate the meeting is part of a broader summit taking place from July 9 to 11, designed to foster bilateral investment and private-sector partnerships.
This gathering comes amid a marked shift in U.S.-Africa relations under Trump’s leadership. Since returning to the political scene, Trump has drastically reduced traditional foreign aid to African nations, labeling much of it as “wasteful” and misaligned with U.S. interests.
Instead, the administration is pushing for mutually beneficial trade and investment deals. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized this redirection, saying Washington is moving away from a “charity-driven aid model” and will now support nations that demonstrate “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
In a related move, Troy Fitrel, a senior official in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, disclosed in May that American diplomats in Africa will now be evaluated based on the commercial agreements they secure — a dramatic departure from previous benchmarks centered on development or security cooperation.
Notably absent from the list of invitees is Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, which has historically enjoyed strong ties with Washington. The omission has raised eyebrows among analysts, suggesting a recalibration of U.S. engagement in the region.
As the U.S. continues to redefine its foreign policy posture on the continent, the upcoming summit is expected to offer a glimpse into Trump’s evolving Africa strategy — one that prizes investment over aid, deals over diplomacy.
