President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had quite the showdown at the White House on Wednesday. Trump, known for his controversial statements, made claims of “genocide” against white South African farmers. The meeting took place on May 21, 2025, in the Oval Office, where Trump went as far as dimming the lights to show videos on a TV monitor to back up his allegations. Ramaphosa seemed taken aback by the dramatic gesture and even mentioned that he hadn’t seen the footage that was being aired.
During the tense exchange, Trump held up what he described as news articles detailing violent attacks on white Afrikaner farmers. He emphasized the word “death” repeatedly, claiming that White South Africans were fleeing their country due to violence and racist laws. Trump went on to compare the situation to apartheid, stating that the current events were not being widely reported. Ramaphosa, however, refuted these claims, stating that the videos shown were not reflective of the government’s policies, and that the speakers were associated with fringe political groups.
Ramaphosa emphasized that the violence in South Africa affects people of all races, with the majority of victims being Black individuals. He urged Trump to listen to the perspectives of South Africans to gain a better understanding of the situation. Despite Trump’s focus on the treatment of White South Africans, Ramaphosa attempted to steer the conversation towards trade and economic investment, which he deemed as the primary reason for his visit. Elon Musk, a South African native and a key adviser to Trump, also made an appearance during the meeting but remained silent throughout the heated discussion.
The issue of Afrikaner refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. came up, with Trump expediting their applications under an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa.” The order accused the South African government of seizing Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation, leading to the resettlement of these individuals in the U.S. This move was met with criticism, with experts pointing out that the South African land law aimed to address injustices from the apartheid era and was comparable to eminent domain laws in other countries.
The debate over prioritizing Afrikaners for resettlement while restricting immigration from other countries raised eyebrows. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s stance, stating that the individuals granted refugee status had met all necessary criteria. However, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine questioned the validity of claims of persecution against Afrikaner farmers, highlighting the selective nature of the U.S. immigration policy. The meeting between Trump and Ramaphosa shed light on the complexities of international relations and immigration policies, leaving room for further debate and discussion.
