During a meeting on Wednesday, President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa experienced an unexpected moment when Trump shared a video alleging that white farmers in South Africa were being persecuted.
The conversation started off on a friendly note but quickly became tense as they discussed Trump’s assertion that white South African farmers were facing “genocide” from the majority population.
This encounter came shortly after the first group of white South African refugees arrived in the U.S., marking a significant moment in Africa’s refugee resettlement efforts.
The meeting seemed to put Ramaphosa on the defensive. While he managed to remain composed—unlike the infamous February Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—the tactics employed by Trump were clearly unsettling.
Here are some key insights from the meeting.
Trump highlights “white genocide” through video
The video, shown as the meeting proceeded, shortly followed Trump’s inquiry if any media members had questions. Journalists probed him about what it would take to convince him that no “genocide” was targeting white farmers, a claim he and some allies persist in arguing.
Ramaphosa encouraged Trump to engage more deeply by listening to the perspectives of South African citizens.
The nearly four-minute video, which the White House later shared on social media, featured clips of South Africans making troubling statements about violence toward farmers.
“This is alarming. These incidents… Over 1,000 white farmers feel threatened,” Trump remarked, emphasizing that they are indeed suffering.
South African officials responded, expressing a desire to know the details behind these claims.
Ramaphosa comes prepared
Ramaphosa arrived at the meeting with strategies to address Trump’s worries and appeal to him on a personal level.
To this end, he presented a book about the golf courses in South Africa, knowing that Trump is an avid golfer.
“What’s going on with South African golfers? There must be something special about the place, right?” Trump joked.
Among them is Retief Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, and Ernie Els, who once held the number one rank worldwide.
As the heated debate unfolded about the alleged persecution of white farmers, Trump showed a keen interest in their views and invited them to share their experiences.
Goosen spoke about his rural upbringing in South Africa, while Els emphasized the importance of U.S.-South African ties.
Musk and Vance’s quiet presence
Notably, Elon Musk, originally from South Africa, and Vice President Vance kept a low profile during the discussions.
Vance, seated on the couch next to Trump, contributed less than during a previous meeting with Zelensky when he thanked Trump on behalf of Ukraine.
While the video played, Trump was seen whispering to Vance, and they flipped through some documents together. Afterward, Trump presented Ramaphosa with earlier materials.
“Look, these are posts from the last few days. They reflect deaths,” Trump stated, displaying images and stressing that South Africans are fleeing due to violence and discriminatory laws.
The President even suggested he didn’t want to involve Musk in the contentious discussions while Musk quietly stood by.
Musk has previously spoken out about laws perceived as racist, and Trump reiterated claims that white minorities are unfairly targeted, recalling he had issued an executive order to suspend foreign aid to South Africa due to these issues.
G-20 discussions remain unclear
South Africa is scheduled to host a G-20 summit later this year, but Trump’s grievances with Ramaphosa’s administration have sparked uncertainty about American participation.
When asked if he planned to attend the G-20, Trump acknowledged the meeting’s significance but remained noncommittal.
“Without the U.S., it’s not the same,” he remarked.
Ramaphosa revealed he had reached out previously, urging Trump to consider attending and even visiting South Africa for a state occasion. The U.S. is also slated to hold the G-20 in 2026.
Earlier this month, Trump hinted he might skip the G-20 unless concerns about white farmers were addressed, resulting in directives from the White House to halt related preparations.
Questions regarding the Qatar jet
As the discussion unfolded, news broke that the Pentagon had accepted a luxury jet from Qatar for military use.
This decision drew heavy criticism from various political factions due to safety and ethical concerns. Trump argued against the notion of rejecting the plane.
When NBC’s Peter Alexander questioned Trump about the Qatar jet shortly after the video, the president expressed frustration.
“What’s this got to do with the Qatar jet? Are they giving planes to the U.S. Air Force? That’s wonderful,” he retorted, criticizing Alexander’s reporting.
“You’re not a clever reporter. You should focus more on relevant subjects,” he added.
As the tension eased later, Ramaphosa referred back to the jet while addressing some of Trump’s complaints.
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have a plane to offer you,” he said diplomatically.
“Well, I would take it if you did. If your country offers a plane to the U.S. Air Force, I’d gladly accept,” Trump replied.
