Overview

• During a high-profile Oval Office meeting, President Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video alleging violence against white farmers, including inflammatory rhetoric from fringe opposition leader Julius Malema.
• Ramaphosa firmly rejected claims of a 'white genocide,' citing a February court ruling that dismissed the narrative as baseless and emphasizing that most crime victims in South Africa are Black.
• Trump maintained his stance, asserting that land expropriation policies lead to violence against white farmers, despite Ramaphosa's assurances that such claims do not reflect government policy.
• The meeting, intended to reset U.S.–South Africa relations, highlighted ongoing tensions over U.S. aid cuts, reciprocal tariffs, and the Trump administration's refugee program for Afrikaners.
• Ramaphosa sought to focus on trade and economic cooperation, bringing prominent South African figures, including golf legends, to appeal to Trump's personal interests and promote dialogue.