The recent bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, held on May 21, 2025, at the White House, was marked by significant tension and controversy. Originally intended to focus on trade and diplomatic relations, the meeting was overshadowed by President Trump’s confrontational approach, particularly regarding discredited claims of a “white genocide” targeting Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.reuters.com+4Council on Foreign Relations+4Al Jazeera+4ft.com+3washingtonpost.com+3BBC+3
During the meeting, President Trump presented a video montage featuring inflammatory content, including the chant “Shoot the Boer” by opposition leader Julius Malema and images of white crosses, which he claimed represented graves of murdered white farmers. These crosses were, in fact, part of a 2020 protest memorial and not actual burial sites. President Ramaphosa responded by emphasizing that such rhetoric does not reflect government policy and highlighted South Africa’s commitment to a multiparty democracy that allows freedom of expression. BBCnypost.com+1BBC+1
President Trump also challenged South Africa’s land reform policies, suggesting they led to violence against white farmers. Ramaphosa clarified that while land expropriation without compensation is legally permitted under specific conditions to address historical inequalities, no land has been seized under this policy to date. en.wikipedia.org+1thetimes.co.uk+1en.wikipedia.org+2BBC+2thetimes.co.uk+2
Despite the confrontational nature of the meeting, President Ramaphosa maintained composure and later described the discussions as “fruitful.” He expressed hope for continued engagement between the two nations and extended an invitation to President Trump to attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa. SAnews
For a more detailed account of the meeting, you can watch the full video below:
