President Donald Trump shocked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office by accusing his government of targeting white farmers with violence and land seizures.
WASHINGTON (WE) — In a tense and unexpected moment at the White House, Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He accused Ramaphosa of allowing widespread violence against white farmers in South Africa.
Inside the Oval Office, sources said President Donald Trump dimmed the lights and played a controversial video of a South African politician singing, “kill the farmer.”
Trump then held up several printed news reports, repeating the phrase: “Death, death, death, horrible death.” He has promoted the idea of a genocide targeting white farmers, despite a lack of evidence.
Acting on these beliefs, Trump cut off U.S. aid to South Africa. He also allowed dozens of white South African farmers into the U.S., calling them refugees.
During the meeting, Donald Trump claimed that the South African government was targeting white landowners through land expropriation. He called the policy anti-white and anti-American. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” He said, “They are confiscating their land, and in many cases, killing them.”
Ramaphosa, seeking to stabilize a deteriorating relationship between his country and the U.S., directly rejected Trump’s accusations. Ramaphosa told the president, “We completely oppose that.”, “That is not government policy.” He emphasized, “Our government policy is completely, completely against what you’re saying.”
Trump appeared unmoved. “They kill the white farmer when they take the land,” he claimed, repeating a widely disputed assertion popular among some of Trump’s supporters and far-right commentators.
At the start of the meeting, President Donald Trump offered a mixed message. He called Ramaphosa “a truly respected man in many, many circles,” but added, “Some circles consider him a little controversial.” Ramaphosa responded with a smile, saying, “We’re all like that,” a lighthearted jab at the American president’s own contentious record.
Trump’s executive order in February, which cut all U.S. funding to South Africa, outlined multiple grievances. It claimed that the country’s domestic policies target white citizens and that its foreign policies support adversaries of the United States such as Iran and Hamas. South Africa has challenged these characterizations, stating that U.S. criticisms rely heavily on misinformation and political framing.
The Trump administration has tied its criticism to the fate of Afrikaners, a white minority group descended from Dutch settlers. Elon Musk, a South African-born U.S. entrepreneur and longtime critic of South Africa’s policies, has repeatedly raised the alarm about what he views as anti-white discrimination. Musk has used his platform on X (formerly Twitter) to echo claims that land seizures and violence target white farmers. These assertions, however, have not held up to scrutiny.
Researchers and crime experts in South Africa have emphasized that the country suffers from widespread violent crime, but not race-based attacks on white farmers. “Farm attacks are real,” said Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies, “but they affect all races. There is no evidence that whites are being systematically targeted.”
Nonetheless, Trump appears convinced otherwise. During the meeting, he continued to make his case, arguing that the issue was being ignored by the international community. “Nobody talks about it, but I will,” he said, vowing to keep the issue on his foreign policy radar.
South African officials hoped the Oval Office visit would help ease diplomatic tensions. Instead, the atmosphere grew confrontational. Ramaphosa brought with him a delegation that included golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as Johann Rupert, a wealthy Afrikaner business tycoon. The goal was to engage Trump on familiar ground—particularly his love for golf—and to show unity among South Africans across political and racial lines.
Ramaphosa even gifted Trump a coffee table book featuring South Africa’s top golf courses and mentioned that he’s been improving his game. Despite the friendly gesture, Trump returned the conversation to crime and land seizures.
To broaden the context, Ramaphosa asked Zingiswa Losi, the president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), to speak. She acknowledged the country’s high levels of violence but stressed that the issue wasn’t racial. “It is true that South Africa is a violent nation for a number of reasons,” Losi said. “But it’s not necessarily about race. It’s about crime.”
She urged Trump to see the bigger picture and proposed bilateral efforts to reduce violence. “We’re here to discuss how both nations can work together to reset relations. We want to focus on investment and also address the high levels of crime in South Africa.”
Despite efforts to steer the conversation, Trump stayed focused on land seizures and the safety of white farmers. His talking points echoed earlier claims from conservative media like Fox News and political influencers who have spread fringe narratives about race-based killings in South Africa.
Later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters. He offered a softer stance, saying Trump remains open to resetting relations with South Africa. However, Rubio emphasized that U.S. concerns go beyond violence against white farmers. “When one country is consistently unaligned with the United States on issue after issue, you have to make conclusions about it,” Rubio said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
Both Trump and Rubio raised South Africa’s recent filing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This case drew fierce backlash from pro-Israel politicians and leaders in Washington.
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Additionally, Ramaphosa faced criticism for his past role as chair of the board at MTN Group, a major telecom operator in Africa. MTN holds a significant stake in Irancell, an Iranian joint venture. Irancell is allegedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Critics in Washington have raised concerns about South Africa’s ties to Iran due to this business connection.
Elon Musk, who also attended the meeting, used the occasion to voice his frustrations with South African regulators. He claimed that his satellite internet service, Starlink, cannot get a license to operate in South Africa because he is not Black.
South African authorities dispute Musk’s claim. According to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Starlink has not submitted a formal application. However, the law requires foreign companies to meet local ownership thresholds. Specifically, at least 30% of the local subsidiary must be owned by Black South Africans or individuals disadvantaged under apartheid. These affirmative action laws play a central role in the government’s effort to correct historical injustices. During apartheid, Black South Africans were denied land, education, and economic opportunities.
Officials emphasized that the licensing framework is non-negotiable. “All companies are welcome, but they must adhere to our transformation policies,” said ICASA Chairperson Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng.
Despite their disagreements, Ramaphosa tried to steer the conversation back toward cooperation. “We want our nations to be partners in development,” he said near the end of the meeting. “That includes addressing crime, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.”
The meeting ended without a joint press conference. White House officials described it as “frank” and “constructive,” though few expect a diplomatic breakthrough soon. Trump reportedly declined a photo op and did not walk Ramaphosa out of the West Wing.
Back in South Africa, the reaction was mixed. Critics accused Trump of promoting racist narratives and ignoring facts. Supporters of Ramaphosa praised his composure during the encounter. “He kept his cool,” said political analyst Judith February of the Institute for Security Studies. “He didn’t give in to Trump’s provocations. That matters.”
For now, the U.S.-South Africa relationship remains at a historic low point. Not since the days of apartheid has there been such deep mistrust. Then, the U.S. opposed South Africa’s racist regime. Today, Trump is accusing the post-apartheid government of being racist in reverse.
The geopolitical consequences could be far-reaching. South Africa plays a key role in the BRICS bloc, alongside Russia, India, China, and Brazil. A widening rift with Washington could push the country further into alliances that run counter to U.S. interests.
Trump’s campaign for a second term will likely keep his confrontational foreign policy front and center—especially on race and nationalism. For South Africa, dealing with Washington now seems harder than ever.
