During a White House meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump aggressively challenged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, reiterating unfounded allegations of widespread and targeted killings of white farmers in South Africa. The meeting, intended to improve strained bilateral relations, became a platform for Trump to push his narrative, which has been widely disputed by experts.
Trump employed unconventional tactics to emphasize his claims, including dimming the lights in the Oval Office to play a video featuring a far-left politician chanting a song with lyrics advocating violence against farmers. He also presented news articles, asserting that white farmers in South Africa face “death, death, death, horrible death.” This confrontation follows Trump’s previous actions, such as cutting U.S. assistance to South Africa and granting refugee status to white South African farmers, based on his assertion of an ongoing “genocide.”
The U.S. president has repeatedly accused South Africa’s Black-led government of land seizures from white farmers, implementing anti-white policies, and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy. However, experts in South Africa have refuted these claims, stating that while violent home invasions affect farmers of all races, there is no evidence of targeted killings of white farmers. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” Trump stated, “Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they’re being killed.”
Ramaphosa, attempting to salvage the deteriorating relationship, firmly rejected Trump’s allegations. He clarified that the South African government’s policies are “completely, completely against what he was saying.” “We are completely opposed to that,” Ramaphosa stated. Despite these reassurances, Trump remained unconvinced, asserting, “When they take the land, they kill the white farmer.”
The meeting began with Trump acknowledging Ramaphosa as “a truly respected man in many, many circles,” while also noting he is “considered a little controversial in some circles.” Ramaphosa, emphasizing the need to “recalibrate” the relationship, thanked Trump for the invitation.
The strained relationship stems from Trump’s February executive order, which cut all U.S. funding to South Africa, citing concerns over domestic and foreign policies, including alleged anti-white policies and support for groups like Hamas and Iran. Trump has also falsely accused the South African government of rights violations against white Afrikaner farmers through a new expropriation law, which has not resulted in any land seizures.
The Trump administration’s focus on the Afrikaner population has amplified claims by figures like Elon Musk and conservative commentators that a genocide is occurring in South Africa. South African authorities have criticized these claims as misinformation, emphasizing that affirmative action laws are necessary to address the legacy of apartheid.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the administration’s concerns extend beyond the issue of white farmers, citing South Africa’s stance at the International Court of Justice regarding Israel and its past connections to Iranian telecom ventures.
Ramaphosa’s delegation included prominent figures like golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, in an apparent attempt to ease tensions. Musk, who has been vocal about his criticism of South Africa’s affirmative action laws, also attended the talks.
The South African government maintains that its affirmative action policies are essential for rectifying the injustices of apartheid, which historically disadvantaged Black and other racial groups.
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