The official visit to Washington by the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, turned into a tense political confrontation this Wednesday that ultimately undermined any attempts at reconciliation between the two nations.
The host, Donald Trump, once again showcased his confrontational style, orchestrating a trap in the Oval Office that left the members of the South African delegation stunned and publicly aired unsubstantiated accusations of a supposed "genocide" against white farmers in South Africa.
Video, accusations, and awkward silence
After a brief welcome filled with diplomatic phrases and handshakes, the atmosphere in the White House changed dramatically when Trump ordered to “turn off the lights” and projected a video showcasing fiery speeches by South African politicians against the white minority, as well as images of crosses and mounds that, according to the U.S. president, represented over 1,000 murdered farmers.
Ramaphosa's reaction was immediate but calm: “I would like to know where that is, because I have never seen it.”
Acting on this, he clarified: “Allow me to clarify, because what was seen in the speeches delivered is not the government's policy. In South Africa, we have a multiparty democracy that allows people to express themselves and political parties to adhere to various policies. And, in some cases, those policies do not align with the government's policy.”
To which Trump replied why he doesn't arrest them.
Ramaphosa denies genocide and defends his democracy
The South African leader attempted to dismantle Trump's narrative by explaining that his government's policy is "completely contrary to what has been said here, even in Parliament. And it is a minority party that is allowed to exist under our Constitution."
Although the White House only shared fragments on social media where the South African president was quiet, the leader did speak and attempted to offer his perspective on the accusations.
Despite the clarifications, Trump insisted: "They are taking land away from people, and in many cases, those people are being executed.”
And he added that his government has received “hundreds, thousands of people trying to enter our country because they feel they are going to be murdered and that their lands are going to be confiscated.”
White refugees yes, others no
The contrast between Trump's immigration policies and his recent humanitarian exception did not go unnoticed.
While virtually keeping the asylum doors closed to tens of thousands of people from war-torn or humanitarian crisis areas, your administration recently chartered a special flight to bring 59 white Afrikaners from South Africa, who were granted permanent residency and work permits.
“We welcome people from many places if we believe there is persecution or genocide,” Trump justified, asserting that these individuals were fleeing from a “terrible and uncontrolled genocide.”
The decision was accompanied by the complete suspension of foreign aid to South Africa, valued at 350 million dollars annually, and by a presidential decree in February that accuses Ramaphosa's government of "serious human rights violations."
Elon Musk, golfers, and geopolitical tensions
In an effort to smooth things over and appeal to Trump's taste for golf and business, the South African delegation included prominent Afrikaner figures such as golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as magnate Johann Rupert.
Elon Musk was also present, an outspoken critic of the government of his homeland, which he has accused of preventing him from deploying the Starlink system due to affirmative action laws.
Ramaphosa tried to use these figures as proof that "there is no ethnic persecution."
“If there had been a genocide of Afrikaner farmers, I can bet that these three gentlemen would not be here, including my Minister of Agriculture,” he stated.
Tensions over Gaza and the G20
Another factor that has deteriorated the bilateral relationship was South Africa's decision to bring the State of Israel before the International Criminal Court for "acts of genocide" against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Trump took the opportunity to reproach Ramaphosa for an "openly anti-American" foreign policy.
Furthermore, following the expulsion in March of the South African ambassador in Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, declared persona non grata, the United States has canceled its participation in the G20 summit to be held this November in Johannesburg.
“I believe that, without the United States, (the summit) is really not very important because it is no longer the same meeting”, Trump stated during the meeting with Ramaphosa.
The final showdown
Despite the attempts to maintain a cordial tone, including jokes from the South African president such as "I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you," referencing the luxurious plane that Qatar recently gifted to Trump; to which the U.S. president responded: "I would accept it."
The U.S. leader repeatedly stated that Afrikaners are being “executed” and that “the farmers are not black,” and dismissed the legal explanations regarding the South African expropriation law of 2024, which allows for the confiscation of land without compensation to address inequalities inherited from Apartheid.
Ramaphosa, visibly uncomfortable but resolute, concluded his speech by asking Trump to "listen to their stories, their perspective."
But the reality is that what should have been an attempt at reconciliation ended as yet another episode of the combative and unilateral style that has characterized Trump-era diplomacy.
Foreign policy at the pace of diplomatic battles
Ramaphosa's visit to Washington confirms that under Trump's leadership, U.S. foreign policy continues to be driven by ideological, personal, and racial interests, and that the White House can become a diplomatic battleground where the guest risks being publicly vilified.
The trap set for Ramaphosa is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a repeated strategy by President Trump.
Just three months earlier, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, was also the victim of a similar scene in the Oval Office.
At that time, Trump was involved in a monumental clash that ended with Zelensky's expulsion from the White House during a televised discussion.
The Ukrainian leader was trying to gather support for the war against Russia, but he encountered a public confrontation that ended in diplomatic humiliation. What happened with Ramaphosa confirms that visits to Washington during Trump's second presidency can become real minefields for foreign leaders, even those who arrive armed with cooperation proposals, strategic allies, and gestures of goodwill.
Frequently asked questions about the confrontation between Trump and Ramaphosa
Why did Donald Trump accuse the government of South Africa of genocide against white farmers?
Trump accused the South African government of an alleged "genocide" against white farmers, based on speeches by South African politicians and the law for expropriation of land without compensation. However, these accusations were dismissed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who stated that there is no systematic persecution against the Afrikaners.
How did Cyril Ramaphosa respond to Trump's accusations?
Ramaphosa denied the accusations of genocide and defended South Africa's democracy, asserting that his government's policies do not align with those of the minority parties promoting hate speech. Ramaphosa insisted that there is no ethnic persecution and that the crimes mentioned by Trump are not a state policy.
What measures did Trump take in response to the situation in South Africa?
Trump suspended foreign aid to South Africa and signed a decree accusing the South African government of human rights violations. Additionally, he allowed white Afrikaners entry as refugees into the United States, justifying this by stating they are fleeing from a "genocide."
How does Trump's immigration policy relate to his treatment of South African Afrikaners?
Trump showed a double standard in his immigration policy by allowing the entry of white Afrikaners while restricting asylum for other nationalities. This has been criticized by politicians and activists who argue that there are other groups with greater humanitarian needs.
What impact has this conflict had on relations between the United States and South Africa?
The conflict has significantly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. The suspension of foreign aid and Trump's accusations have deteriorated the bilateral relationship, and Ramaphosa's visit to Washington ended in confrontation instead of reconciliation.
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