Three months into his second term, President Donald Trump staged a tense and highly theatrical meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House.
The encounter turned confrontational when Trump, responding to a question on the debunked “white genocide” narrative in South Africa, dimmed the lights and played videos of anti-apartheid chants and news clippings. He accused South Africa of targeting white farmers, a claim lacking credible evidence.
Despite being confronted with inflammatory footage and claims, Ramaphosa remained calm. He urged Trump to “listen to South Africans” and distanced himself from the rhetoric in the video, noting that the individuals shown were not government officials.
Trump also seemed misinformed, suggesting opposition leaders could seize land from white farmers, although the controversial land reform bill has yet to be enacted.
In a strategic move, Ramaphosa brought two white South African golf stars—Ernie Els and Retief Goosen—along with his white agriculture minister, to act as diplomatic buffers. Their presence seemed to appease Trump, a known golf enthusiast.
