Donald Trump has met world leaders from across the globe, but there’s one accent he simply can’t get enough of—the British accent. In fact, he once joked that if he had the “beautiful” accent of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he would have been president 20 years ago. But what makes this particular accent so fascinating to him? And why does his reaction to other foreign accents tell a completely different story?
Trump’s fascination with accents isn’t just a passing comment—it reflects a deep-seated pattern in how he judges people. His history of controversial remarks has often suggested that he evaluates individuals based on appearances and stereotypes. From dismissing journalists to outright ignoring questions based on someone’s accent, his preferences speak volumes about his worldview.
Reporter: You have any plan to change Afghanistan’s situation? Are you able to recognize Taliban?
Trump: It’s a beautiful voice and a beautiful accent. The only problem is I can’t understand a word you’re saying, but. But I just say this. Good luck. Live in peace. pic.twitter.com/lWyq4fuplm
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 5, 2025
The “Beautiful” Accent He Loves—And The Ones He Doesn’t
During a press conference, an Afghan journalist asked Trump a serious question about Afghanistan. Instead of answering, he fixated on her voice, calling her accent “beautiful” before admitting he didn’t understand a word she said. The pattern continued when an Indian journalist asked a question—except this time, Trump didn’t even attempt to be polite. He simply dismissed the journalist’s words entirely, saying, “I can’t understand a word he’s saying,” before abruptly leaving the room.
Trump gets frustrated and roasts an Indian reporter:
“I can’t understand a word he’s saying.” pic.twitter.com/K0VMtZcI5d
— The Washington Observer (@WashObserver) February 13, 2025
His reaction raises an important question: Why does Trump admire one foreign accent while brushing off others? Experts argue that his preference for British accents isn’t just about sound—it’s about power, history, and deep-rooted perceptions of superiority. The British were once America’s colonizers, and their speech has long been associated with prestige and authority.
The Hidden Bias Behind Accent Discrimination
Trump’s attitude toward accents mirrors a broader global bias. Studies have shown that people subconsciously judge intelligence, trustworthiness, and competence based on how someone speaks. For example, in the U.S., southern accents are often unfairly perceived as less sophisticated than northern ones, despite no scientific link between speech patterns and intelligence.
Children as young as five show no preference between regional accents, but by the age of ten, they start associating northern accents with intelligence and southern accents with a lack of sophistication. This proves that our perception of speech is shaped by society, not by any actual difference in clarity or intellect.
The same principle applies to foreign accents. People tend to favor accents that belong to historically powerful nations while looking down on those from regions associated with struggle or colonization. Trump’s admiration for British and European accents likely stems from their association with global influence, whereas his dismissal of South Asian and Middle Eastern accents may reflect a bias rooted in outdated stereotypes.
Having been born and raised in North Carolina, yes, the accent is dead on for the upper class of NC, ESPECIALLY the people with old money. When I watched the first episode I was like OMG, she sounds like my mom 😂 pic.twitter.com/bNLyFFJ5WS
— Jax Persists (@LadyJayPersists) March 14, 2025
His fascination with accents may seem trivial at first, but it reveals much more about how people—and powerful leaders—perceive the world.
