Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Trump Confronts Ramaphosa With Genocide Claims in Oval Office Showdown

South African President denies allegations of land seizures and white farmer killings as Trump plays controversial video during tense meeting.

Image
Image
U.S. President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Image

Overview

  • President Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video alleging 'white genocide,' featuring inflammatory remarks by opposition leader Julius Malema and misrepresented footage of white crosses.
  • Ramaphosa refuted the claims, stating that South Africa's government does not support land seizures or racially targeted violence, and emphasized that most crime victims in the country are Black.
  • Trump's allegations come despite a February South African court ruling dismissing 'white genocide' narratives as baseless, underscoring the role of fringe actors in promoting such claims.
  • The meeting highlighted strained US-South Africa relations, with Ramaphosa seeking to reset ties, address trade tariffs, and counter misinformation while Trump continues to prioritize Afrikaner refugee resettlement.
  • Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire and key proponent of the 'white genocide' narrative, was present at the meeting but did not actively participate in the discussion.