In a disputable White House meeting on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with unverified claims of a ‘’white genocide’’ in South Africa, reviving a discredited conspiracy theory. The exchange is similar to Trump’s previous confrontational exchange with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, which disrupted Ramaphosa’s plans to reset US-South Africa relations and focus on trade.
"This is a very serious situation. If we had a real press, it would be exposed. When it gets exposed, it'll get fixed. But people don't talk about it. And I'll tell you who is talking about it, thousands of people that are fleeing South Africa right now." –President Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Cu3Or9Mar0
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 21, 2025
Ramaphosa was accompanied by prominent white South Africans, including billionaire Johann Rupert, and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The South African President hoped to reduce tensions after Trump stopped aid, criticised South Africa‘s stance on Israel, and offered refuge to Afrikaners. But Trump directed the discussion towards crimes against farmers, and also played a video that depicted white crosses and flammable speeches, which he claimed proved persecution.
”We have many people that feel they are being persecuted, and they are coming to the United States,” Trump stated, suggesting that white South Africans were being killed and their land was seized.
Ramaphosa rejects Trump’s genocide accusations
Ramaphosa maintained a calm posture and dismissed the allegations. ”If there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you, these three gentlemen would not be here,” he stated, referencing the white delegates who joined him for the meeting.
As per official data, South Africa reported more than 26,000 murders in 2024, with only 44 related to farming communities, including eight farmers. Ramaphosa highlighted that most of the victims are Black South Africans and restated his government’s commitment to constitutional land reform. ”These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about,” he mentioned.
Despite the heated exchange between the two leaders, Ramaphosa later focused on shared economic interests and informed the reporters that both countries would work on trade, especially on critical minerals. ”There is just no genocide in South Africa,” he restated firmly after the meeting was concluded.
(With inputs from Reuters)