Trump targets South Africa on white farmer issue; Ramaphosa calls claims fringe

In a tense and dramatic encounter at the White House on Wednesday, 21 May, US President Donald Trump publicly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over alleged persecution of white farmers in South Africa, showing him a video montage and news clippings during their first face-to-face meeting.

The Oval Office exchange marked one of the most confrontational public engagements between Trump and a visiting foreign head of state since a similarly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year.

During a joint media interaction, President Trump had the lights dimmed in the Oval Office to screen a video showing controversial clips — including a fringe South African politician chanting slogans about killing white farmers, and scenes purportedly showing cars carrying the bodies of murdered farmers. Trump cited these as examples of what he called a “very serious situation,” adding that white South African farmers were “being inundated” and “their farms are valueless.”

"That man said, 'Kill the white farmers.' And then he danced, and he's dancing, dancing,” Trump remarked about the video. “I think if somebody got up in Parliament and started saying something like that here, they would be arrested very quickly."

Trump also referred to scenes in the video depicting rows of crosses and dead bodies, reiterating claims of widespread killings. "Those crosses… we have dead white people, dead white farmers, mostly. And you take a look at Australia, they're being inundated. And we're being inundated with people that want to get out," he said.

TRUMP IS A GANGSTER

Watch as Trump makes the South African President watch videos of his country man Julius Malema calling for the genocide of white farmers in the Oval Office!

President Cyril Ramaphosa was clearly disturbed 😳
Not to mention the k!ller stare from Elon Musk! pic.twitter.com/2SzJ9WYNLM

— EMENIKE IHEANYI (@DataRefines) May 21, 2025

In response, President Ramaphosa calmly pushed back, explaining that the individual featured in the video belonged to a fringe opposition party and did not represent the South African government or mainstream political discourse. He stressed that the video mischaracterized the realities on the ground.

Despite the unusually charged public confrontation, Ramaphosa and his delegation proceeded with their remaining meetings — a marked contrast to the February incident involving Ukraine, where the day’s scheduled talks were abruptly canceled following tensions.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ramaphosa downplayed the dramatics. “You wanted to see drama and something big happening,” he said. “I'm sorry that we disappointed you somewhat."

Back home, however, the sentiment ahead of the meeting had been one of anxiety. South African media headlines described Ramaphosa’s visit in stark terms, with one calling it a journey “into the mouth of Trump hell.” Many citizens feared a repeat of Trump’s public berating of foreign leaders, and critics questioned why the president had agreed to visit the White House at all.

“I honestly don't understand why Ramaphosa is actually in the United States when Trump has made it very clear how he feels about South Africa,” said Dumisani Mnisi, a university student in Johannesburg.

A spokesperson for Ramaphosa described the media interaction as “an orchestrated show for the cameras,” and emphasized that the real diplomatic engagement took place behind closed doors.

Ramaphosa, who had sought the meeting in a bid to correct what he termed “mischaracterizations” of South Africa and to negotiate new trade arrangements, described the private discussions as productive. He said he believed he had started the process of changing Trump’s view on South Africa.

Among the reported outcomes was a tentative agreement by Trump to attend the G20 summit in South Africa this November, reversing an earlier decision by the U.S. to boycott the event. South Africa currently holds the rotating G20 presidency and will hand it over to the U.S. next year.

Ramaphosa said bilateral talks had opened new areas for trade and cooperation, and he expressed satisfaction with the progress made. Both leaders exchanged gifts — including books — and the South African delegation received White House souvenirs marking the visit.

“So that was good,” Ramaphosa said, summing up the day.

Ramaphosa, a seasoned political negotiator known for his calm demeanor, rose to prominence as the African National Congress's chief negotiator in the early 1990s, during South Africa’s transition away from apartheid. He became president in 2018 and has since positioned himself as a stabilizing force, both at home and on the international stage.