During a meeting in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump engaged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a lengthy and at times tense discussion over Trump’s claims of a “genocide” against white farmers in South Africa. The exchange escalated when Trump played a video showing inflammatory rhetoric and alleged evidence of violence against white farmers, which he and his allies have used to support their accusations.
Ramaphosa countered the claims, urging Trump to listen to the perspectives of native South Africans and emphasizing that the majority of crime victims in South Africa are Black. He also denied that land seizures or targeted killings of white farmers were government policy.
South Africa’s Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, criticized the video, pointing out that the individuals featured were from fringe opposition parties.
Trump remained firm, citing media reports and printed articles about violence and alleged anti-white policies, and questioned why the issue wasn’t receiving more media attention. He also criticized the press for shifting focus to unrelated matters, such as a recent Qatari jet gift.
The meeting, which began on a positive note and included South African golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in an effort to appeal personally to Trump, ultimately highlighted the deep divide between the two leaders over the issue.
Trump has recently placed a spotlight on South Africa, halting foreign aid and granting refugee status to dozens of Afrikaners, despite a broader freeze on refugee admissions.
South African officials continue to reject the genocide claims, asserting there’s no credible evidence to support such accusations.
