Over a month after US President Donald Trump confronted South African counterpart Cyril Ramapahosa over claims of ‘white genocide‘ in South Africa, he again appeared to have insulted African leaders in a tense meeting.

Presidents of the West African countries of Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon sat down with Trump at the White House this week as part of the three-day mini summit hosted by the American leader. While the situation was founded on the hopes of deepening “commercial opportunities” between the United States and African nations, the scene devolved into something else.

Trump insults African leaders in Oval Office meeting

According to a now-widely circulated video of the summit going around Wednesday, Donald Trump was seen gesturing to African leaders in attendance to hurry and wrap up their address as soon as possible.

“…I appreciate it very much. I appreciate it,’ the POTUS first responded to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, after he foregrounded his country’s strategic position in a five-minute speech.

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Then shifting his gaze to Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Guinea-Bissau’s President, Trump said, “Maybe we’re gonna have to go a little bit quicker than this because we have a whole schedule,” suggesting, “if I could just ask your name and country, that would be great.”

The Republican leader’s admission fired up an air of awkwardness, prompting Embalo to wrap up his comments as quickly as possible.

Despite what netizens have now denounced as an “insult” from an “impatient” Donald Trump, the White House said the multilateral lunch in the State Dining Room of the White House “was arranged because President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners.”

Trump’s closed African club at the White House showers him with flattery

Even with just five countries from a continent that house over 50 nations invited to the White House for the three-day summit, African leaders didn’t stop themselves from heaping sweet words of flattery on the American president while attempting to get him to invest in their nations. As each of those present at the table went around thanking the US leader for the invitation, he responded, “I didn’t know I’d be treated this nicely. This is great. We could do this all day long.”

Trump welcoming hand-picked African guests at the White House comes after his previous term in office when he was lambasted by some for being “dismissive toward Africa.” In his second presidential term, he is eyeing the continent’s mineral wealth with an aim to challenge China’s access to the same in the region.

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Trump-African leaders summit amid clash with South Africa

Yet, one can’t help but notice how this is all happening against the backdrop of Trump targetting the BRICS bloc, wherein South Africa is a nation member. Just days ago, the MAGA boss issued a firm warning against the countries involved, suggesting that he would hit them with an additional 10% tariff “if they so much as even think” about replacing the US dollar with a new BRICS currency.

After pushing out the threat, Trump announced that the US “will charge South Africa a Tariff of only 30% on any and all South African products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.”

“Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country,” he added of the tariff imposition starting on August 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, South African President Ramaphosa, with whom Trump clashed at the White House, told reporters at the summit in Rio de Janeiro: “It is really disappointing that when there is such a very positive collective manifestation such as BRICS, there should be others who see it in a negative light and want to punish those who participate.”