He confronted the South African president.
In a tense meeting at the White House, former President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over reports of violence against white farmers in South Africa. Although the discussion was originally meant to center on trade, it quickly shifted when a reporter questioned Ramaphosa about Trump’s earlier claims of “white genocide.” Ramaphosa deflected by suggesting Trump should listen to the experiences of South Africans, including notable figures like golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who were part of his delegation.
Trump responded by presenting printed articles and playing a video showing members of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) singing controversial songs with anti-white sentiments. The video also included imagery of roadside memorials for murdered farmers, which Trump said symbolized a broader and underreported crisis. He criticized the media for ignoring these stories and drew a comparison to the attention apartheid once received, suggesting the current violence against white farmers was being unjustly overlooked.
Ramaphosa defended his government’s land reform efforts, stating that South Africa’s constitution guarantees property rights while also allowing for land expropriation to address historical inequalities. He emphasized that any reforms would follow legal processes and be conducted in the public interest. Trump, however, accused the South African government of targeting white farmers for land seizure without compensation, warning that many were seeking asylum in the United States as a result.
This confrontation echoed previous tensions between Trump and South Africa dating back to 2018, when Trump raised similar concerns and called for an investigation into land seizures. Although data on farm-related crimes in South Africa is inconsistent, estimates suggest dozens of white farmers are killed annually. The Trump administration’s decision to classify Afrikaners as refugees earlier in the year was met with mixed reactions, with some advocacy groups criticizing the administration for its selective refugee policies.
