Trump confronts South Africa's president in Oval Office, pushes claims of 'genocide' against white farmers

Trump's 'Golden Dome' risks weaponization of space, China says

In an unusual move, he showed videos and articles he said proved his claims




President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in a tense back-and-forth at the White House on Wednesday over Trump's unsubstantiated claims of "genocide" against white South African farmers.


President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 21, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP
In a rare scene in the Oval Office, Trump had the lights dimmed to play videos on a TV monitor he said supported his allegations. Ramaphosa appeared surprised at the gesture and at times said he hadn't seen what was being aired.


President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and President Donald Trump watch as a video plays in the Oval Office of the White House, May 21, 2025 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Trump then held up what he said were news articles about violent attacks against white Afrikaner farmers.

"I don't know, all of these are articles over the last few days, death of people, death, death, death, horrible death," Trump said.

Trump claimed White South Africans were "fleeing because of the violence and the racist laws."

"This is sort of the opposite of apartheid. What's happening now is never reported. Nobody knows about it," he added.


President Donald Trump shows new articles as he meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 21, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Ramaphosa pushed back, saying the clips of speeches Trump played "is not government policy." Other members of the South African delegation said the speakers and their views were part of fringe political groups.

"There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people, majority of them are Black people," Ramaphosa said.

The South African leader said it would take Trump "listening to the voices of South Africans" to change his view. The South African government has vehemently disputed accusations of genocide.

"I would say if there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here, including my minister of agriculture," Ramaphosa said. "He would not be with me. So, it'll take him, President Trump, listening to their stories, to their perspective."


President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 21, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Elon Musk, a South African native and a top adviser to the president during his second term, has also been vocal about the plight of South African landowners, amplifying claims of "white genocide."

Musk was present for Ramaphosa's visit to the White House. He was seen standing behind a couch and did not speak during the exchange between Ramaphosa and Trump.

At times, Ramaphosa sought to steer the conversation back to trade and economic investment -- which he said was the "real reason for being here." But Trump continually talked about the treatment of White South Africans.


Elon Musk attends a meeting between President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washingt...Show more
Evan Vucci/AP
Dozens of Afrikaner refugees arrived in the U.S. last week after having their applications fast-tracked under an executive order issued by Trump in February titled, "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa."

The order contends the South African government passed a law allowing it to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation" in a "shocking disregard of its' citizen rights." It instructs that the U.S. will not provide aid or assistance to the nation, and that the U.S. "promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees."

MORE: Trump administration faces criticism for prioritizing white South African refugees
The law passed by South Africa cited by the administration aims to address land injustices established during apartheid. It states land can be expropriated in the public interest and in most cases must be subject to compensation, the amount of which must have been agreed to by the owners or approved by court. Experts say the law is comparable to similar legislation around the world regarding eminent domain.

Ramaphosa previously said that the White South Africans who are being resettled in the U.S. "do not fit the definition of a refugee" -- someone who is leaving their country out of fear of being persecuted based on race, religion, nationality or political affiliation.


Some of the first group of white South Africans granted refugee status hold U.S. flags as they attend a meet and greet event, at Dulles International Airport...Show more
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Trump has been scrutinized for prioritizing Afrikaners while moving to restrict immigration from elsewhere, including from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked to defend the administration's position while testifying before a Senate panel on Tuesday.

"I think those 49 people that came strongly felt they were persecuted, and they passed every sort of check mark that needed to be checked off," Rubio said. "The president identified it as a problem and wanted to use it as an example."

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he believed the claim there is persecution of Afrikaner farmers was "completely specious" and noted the U.S. hadn't let in Black South Africans during apartheid.

"I think that the United States has a right to allow into this country and prioritize the allowance of who they want to allow it come in," Rubio responded

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

US military officially reacts to Iranian missile attack

Image
  US military officially reacts to Iranian missile attack In the first official U.S. military confirmation of the Iranian attack targeting Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar, U.S. Central Command said the missile barrage was "defeated by U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries." CENTCOM also confirmed that there were no casualties to American or Qatari personnel. "We will continue to aggressively defend our service members and partners in the region. Our adversaries should have no doubt about our resolve or our capabilities," CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted The Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025.
Read more

Ohio deputy fatally struck by man whose son had been shot by police: Authorities The man's 18-year-old son was fatally shot by police the day before. ByVictoria Arancio and Jack Moore May 4, 2025, 7:31 AM 2:10 Deputy killed in car attack in Ohio: AuthoritiesPolice are calling it a "calculated" attack. The suspect is the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by an offi...Show more Authorities in Ohio said a man "purposely" struck and killed a sheriff's deputy the day after his teen son was fatally shot by police. Rodney Hinton Jr. has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of the sheriff's deputy, who was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. Cincinnati police said Hinton is the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot and killed by an officer the day before. Rodney Hinton Jr., seen here in court, has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of a sheriff's deputy. WCPO At a court appearance on Saturday, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies packed the courtroom in support of the fallen deputy, according to ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO. Prosecuting attorney Ryan Nelson said that Hinton Jr.'s movements in his car on Friday were "calculated and premeditated." He added, "He lined up his car, deliberately accelerated his car and purposely caused the death of an on-duty deputy sheriff." The attorney representing Hinton Jr. said that he faces a "very serious, very terrible charge" but noted that he has no felonies in his record. "I understand that this is an emotionally charged situation," the attorney said, mentioning the death of Hinton Jr.'s son. He added, "I understand that there is a lot of sadness and a lot of anger in this room right now and in the community at large." The judge ordered Hinton Jr. held without bond in the Clermont County jail until his next hearing on May 6. In a statement Saturday, attorneys representing the Hinton family said they were hired to investigate the death of Ryan Hinton and that Rodney Hinton, along with other family members, met with Cincinnati police on Friday to view body camera footage of his shooting death. The deputy was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. WCPO "Ryan Hinton's family, including Ryan's father, was present at the meeting and they were understandably distraught as they watched the bodycam video," the statement said. "After the meeting with the police department, Ryan Hinton's father left in his own vehicle and that was the last we heard from him until learning about the tragic incident involving a law enforcement officer who was working a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati." The attorneys are Michael Wright, Shean Williams and Robert Gresham of The Cochran Firm, as well as Anthony Pierson of Pierson and Pierson, LLC, according to WCPO. The statement went on to say: "This is an unimaginable tragedy for this community. Ryan Hinton's family is heartbroken by this tragic turn of events and we are all devastated for the family of the officer who was killed." The deputy has not yet been publicly identified under an Ohio law that protects the privacy of victims and their families. However, police said the deputy had recently retired and was serving in a special capacity with the department

Image
Ohio deputy fatally struck by man whose son had been shot by police: Authorities The man's 18-year-old son was fatally shot by police the day  before Show more Authorities in Ohio said a man "purposely" struck and killed a sheriff's deputy the day after his teen son was fatally shot by police. Rodney Hinton Jr. has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of the sheriff's deputy, who was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. Cincinnati police said Hinton is the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was  shot and killed by an officer  the day before. Rodney Hinton Jr., seen here in court, has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of a sheriff's deputy. WCPO At a court appearance on Saturday, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies packed the courtroom in support of the fallen deputy,  according to ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO . Prosecuting attorney Ryan Nelson said that Hinton Jr....
Read more

Israel-Iran updates: Israel and Iran agree to ceasefire, Trump says

Image
  Israel-Iran updates: Israel and Iran agree to ceasefire, Trump says The agreement has two 12-hour ceasefire periods before the war is over, he said. Iran carried out a missile attack on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, according to a U.S. official, two days after  the U.S. struck three nuclear sites in Iran. There are no reports of casualties at the base, according to a U.S. official. Iran's attack was in response to the U.S. on Saturday sending B-2 bombers to drop 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs -- known as "bunker busters" -- over Iran. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran," though Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said a full battle damage assessment is still pending. Also on Monday, Trump announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, after more than a week of aerial attacks following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program. ...
Read more