Trump ambushes South African president in Oval Office with claims of ‘white persecution’

By iNewsAfrica | Washington Bureau | May 21, 2025

In Summary:
A highly charged Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa erupted into tension as Trump alleged persecution of white farmers in South Africa. Ramaphosa firmly rejected the accusations, highlighting crime affects all citizens regardless of race.

In Brief:

• Trump presented videos and reports alleging targeted attacks on white Afrikaner farmers.

• Ramaphosa dismissed the claims as “misinformed and inflammatory,” urging focus on broader crime challenges.

• Elon Musk and South African golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen were present at the meeting.

• The encounter follows U.S. decisions to grant asylum to Afrikaners and reduce aid to South Africa.

• Experts have widely debunked the “white genocide” narrative as lacking credible evidence.

Washington, D.C. – In a dramatic turn during a diplomatic meeting aimed at resetting U.S.-South Africa relations, President Donald Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with provocative claims of “white persecution” in South Africa, specifically targeting policies and alleged violence against white Afrikaner farmers.

Trump reportedly cited unverified online content and called for action over what he described as “systematic discrimination.” The allegations mirror long-standing but debunked right-wing talking points about a supposed “white genocide” in South Africa—a narrative experts, including human rights observers, have repeatedly discredited.

President Ramaphosa, visibly unsettled by the ambush, stood firm. “South Africa’s struggle is with crime across all communities, not against one race,” he said, rejecting any notion of state-sanctioned racial targeting.

The meeting, also attended by entrepreneur Elon Musk and famed South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, was intended to ease growing tensions between the two nations. However, Trump’s confrontational stance, coupled with recent U.S. policies offering asylum to Afrikaners and slashing aid to Pretoria, cast a shadow over diplomatic hopes.

Analysts warn the incident may further strain relations, with critics accusing Trump of stoking racial anxieties for political mileage. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa reiterated his commitment to building a non-racial, inclusive society and called for bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and facts.