Lotte New York Palace Hotel 
 
 New York, New York 
 
 1:31 P.M. EDT 
 
 PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much, General. I appreciate it. And I'm greatly honored to host this lunch, to be joined by the leaders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and South Africa. In particular, I want to thank President Condé, who is representing the African Union. Thank you. Thank you. 
 
 In this room, I see partners for promoting prosperity and peace on a range of economic, humanitarian, and security issues. We hope to extend our economic partnerships with countries who are committed to self-reliance and to fostering opportunities for job creation in both Africa and the United States. 
 
 Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They're spending a lot of money. But it does -- it has a tremendous business potential and representing huge amounts of different markets. And for American firms it's really become a place that they have to go -- that they want to go. 
 
 of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies are in Africa. Increasing American trade and investment across diverse industries -- including agriculture, energy, transportation, healthcare, travel, and tourism -- will further transform lives throughout the continent. Secretary Tillerson and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation are already considering an investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Côte d’Ivoire, which has made impressive economic reforms. Really, you've done a tremendous job. 
 
 We also hope that African firms -- like the company Sasol --consider making investments in the United States. Sasol, as an example, is building a $9 billion petrochemical plant in Louisiana, which will bring new jobs to the state and, really, hardworking Americans will be manning those jobs. 
 
 we cannot have prosperity if we're not healthy. We will continue our partnership on critical health initiatives. Uganda has made incredible strides in the battle against HIV/AIDS. In Guinea and Nigeria, you fought a horrifying Ebola outbreak. Namibia’s health system is increasingly self-sufficient. My Secretary of Health and Human Services will be traveling to Africa to promote our Global Health Security Agenda. 
 
 Yet, we know that our prosperity depends, above all, on peace. The United States will partner with the countries and organizations, like the African Union, that lead successful efforts to end violence, to prevent the spread of terrorism, and to respond to humanitarian crises. I commend your troops currently serving in the field. Very brave. Very, very brave what they’re going through. 
 
 you well know, too many people are suffering from conflict in Africa. In the Central African Republic, the Congo, Libya, Mali, Somalia, and South Sudan, among others, they’re going through some very, very tough and very dangerous times. Terrorist groups, such as ISIS, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and al Qaeda also threaten African peace. The United States is proud to work with you to eradicate terrorist safe havens, to cut off their finances, and to discredit their depraved ideology. And a number of you have told me -- actually, last night -- that we’ve been doing a very good job over the last six or seven months in particular. 
 
 We're closely monitoring and deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in South Sudan and in the Congo. Millions of lives are at risk, and we continue to provide humanitarian assistance. But real results in halting this catastrophe will require an African-led peace process and a sincere -- really sincere commitment of all parties involved. And I know you’re working on that, and you’re working on that very hard. To assist in these efforts, I'm sending Ambassador Nikki Haley to Africa to discuss avenues of conflict and resolution and, most importantly, prevention. 
 
 I want to discuss our partnership against a global challenge. Today, the world faces an enormous security threat from North Korean regime. We must all stand together and be accountable in implementing United Nations sanctions and resolutions in response to North Korea’s hostile and menacing actions. 
 
 We believe that a free, independent, and democratic nation, in all cases, is the best vehicle for human happiness and success. Thank you for joining me for this critical discussion of the challenges and the opportunities facing our nations. 
 
 Africa, I have to say, is a continent of tremendous, tremendous potential. The outlook is bright. I look forward to hearing from you and your advice during the meal. I thought rather than just eating, we’ll have long discussions -- and I look forward to that very much. But I also look forward to getting to know so many of you, and so many of you I do know. And it’s an honor. It’s an honor. 
 
 And I really want to congratulate you -- growing very fast economically and in every other way. You’ve done a terrific job, you’ve had some tremendous obstacles placed in your path, but you have done, really, an absolutely incredible job. 
 
 So I want to thank you, and I look forward to our discussion. Thank you. 
 
 Thank you all very much. (Applause.) 
 
 END 1:36 P.M. EDT ||||| Tweet with a location 
 
 You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Namibia is a real country in southern African and on Wednesday it got its 15 minutes of fame in America after President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to it as “Nambia” at a United Nations summit in New York. And, you guess it, the moment went viral. 
 
 It happened at a gathering with African leaders when Trump made the unfortunate mispronunciation in this line: “In Guinea and Nigeria, you fought a horrifying Ebola outbreak. Nambia’s health system is increasingly self-sufficient.” 
 
 https://twitter.com/davidmackau/status/910558586799099904 
 
 Of course, there is no African country called “Nambia” — there’s Zambia and Namibia, but not “Nambia.” But people on Twitter took off with it, promptly cracking jokes and taking shots at the president’s speaking skills. Soon after, the word “Nambia” became a trending topic on Twitter. 
 
 https://twitter.com/taureanb/status/910560630536642560 
 
 https://twitter.com/anirvanghosh/status/910598814486204418 
 
 https://twitter.com/claudiajordan/status/910618357136683009 
 
 Jokes aside, a communications director for ONE — an advocacy group in Africa — argued that Trump said some valid points about African countries and the opportunities they present for American investors as Trump noted in his address. 
 
 https://twitter.com/iankoski/status/910566507700260864 
 
 https://twitter.com/iankoski/status/910565344141602823 
 
 So, where is Namibia and why is it so important? 
 
 https://twitter.com/RunGomez/status/910897240721387520 
 
 Namibia is on the southern end of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean coast and it shares borders with South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Angola. It has a recorded population of almost 2.5 million, according to the CIA’s factbook. Namibia has been an independent country since 1990 when it earned sovereignty from South Africa. 
 
 Trump said Africa has some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but Namibia is not one of them. Rather, one of the big reasons Trump and the world is interested in the region is the vast supply of minerals. 
 
 Namibia is one of the world’s top producers of uranium. About half of the world’s supply of vanadium, platinum and diamonds also come from that region, a southern Africa news outlet reported this week. 
 
 Namibia may still be largely obscure to some people in the world but if Trump’s blunder was worth anything, it was this: the world now knows about Namibia. 
 
 https://twitter.com/GwenLister1/status/910620978790768641 
 
 Have some thoughts to share? 
 
 Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet. 
 
 Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com 
 
 Twitter: @RunGomez 
 
 Read The Conversation on Flipboard. ||||| Story highlights Trump spoke during a speech to African leaders 
 
 "Nambia's health system is increasingly self-sufficient," he said 
 
 (CNN) President Donald Trump lavished praise on the health care system of Nambia during a speech at the United Nations. But there's one little problem -- there's no such country. 
 
 "In Guinea and Nigeria, you fought a horrifying Ebola outbreak," Trump told African leaders gathered Wednesday. "Nambia's health system is increasingly self-sufficient." 
 
 Namibia has stunning scenery such as this private reserve where visitors can see giraffes and other animals. 
 
 Trump mentioned Nambia twice during the session attended by leaders of several nations, including Ghana, Namibia and Uganda. 
 
 The gaffe lit up social media, with many speculating whether he meant Namibia, Zambia or Gambia. ||||| Archive-It Partner 1067: The Political TV Ad Archive, a project of the Internet Archive, collects political TV ads and social media sites in key 2016 primary election states, unlocking the metadata underneath and highlighting quality journalism to provide journalists, civic organizations, academics, and the general public with reliable information on who is trying to influence them & how. ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption President Donald Trump on 'Nambia' and Africa's 'business potential' 
 
 "Nambia's health system is increasingly self-sufficient," said US President Donald Trump at a lunch with African leaders in New York on Wednesday, reeling off a list of their nations' achievements. 
 
 But no such country exists. 
 
 Could the US leader have been referring to Namibia? Zambia? Or perhaps, The Gambia? 
 
 Social media users wasted no time in offering their own explanations. 
 
 One person shared an image of US race activist Rachel Dolezal, who identifies as black despite being born white, and who recently visited South Africa: 
 
 Find out more about Namibia, Zambia and The Gambia here: 
 
 Namibia facts and figures 
 
 Zambia facts and figures 
 
 The Gambia facts and figures 
 
 Africa Live: More on this and other stories 
 
 Namibia's President Hage Geingob was present when Mr Trump made the gaffe. He has not yet commented. 
 
 Some Twitter users also bristled at President Trump's comments about Africa's "tremendous business potential". 
 
 "I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you, they're spending a lot of money," Mr Trump said. 
 
 "It [represents] huge amounts of different markets... It's really become a place they have to go, that they want to go." 
 
 Others defended Mr Trump, saying that aside from the "Nambia" blunder, he made some valid points. 
 
 Translator defends Trump speech omissions
– The nation that seems to be showing up in most headlines Thursday is Nambia, mainly because it doesn't actually exist. In a speech to African leaders Wednesday, President Trump referred to "Nambia" not once but twice, first in his general introduction and then later when he mentioned that "Nambia's health system is increasingly self-sufficient." As the BBC notes, that led to plenty of online jokes, along with people wondering whether he meant Gambia, Zambia, or Namibia. Turns out, it was the last of those. Coverage: For the record: The official White House transcript of the speech made the correction without mention of the mispronunciation. (You can hear for yourself in this video.) But that hasn't slowed a barrage of coverage making light of the president's mistake. One example: At CNN, Anderson Cooper referred to Nambia as a "magical land far, far away" in his recap. Namibia 101: The gaffe has led to a slew of civics-type primers about Namibia. Time, for instance, notes the tiny nation of fewer than 2.5 million people is relatively young, having achieved its independence in 1990. Among the factoids it highlights: Namibia is a big producer of diamonds and it has environmental protection written into its constitution. Silver lining: "If Trump's blunder was worth anything, it was this: The world now knows about Namibia," writes Luis Gomez at the San Diego Union-Tribune. He notes that Namibia also is one of the top global producers of uranium. The main point: The gist of Trump's speech was to tout the region's economic potential (he said he has friends who go there "trying to get rich"), and a member of the African advocacy group ONE praised the intent. "I know 'Nambia' will be the narrative that comes from those remarks, but POTUS is right on this: Africa has tremendous business potential," tweeted rep Ian Koski. Namibia's reaction: Officially, nada. No major government official, including President Hage Geingob, who was present, has said anything publicly about the mistake. But the Washington Post reports that Namibians themselves sound a little miffed and are mocking Trump, like so.