Washington, D.C., May 22, 2025 – The Europe Today: A meeting on Wednesday afternoon between former U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took a tense turn when Trump raised disputed claims of racial persecution against white South Africans, including the controversial assertion of “white genocide.”
The high-profile meeting, held in the Oval Office, also saw the presence of Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the sidelines, but it was Trump’s remarks that dominated the encounter. Referring to recent events in South Africa, Trump repeated earlier allegations that white Afrikaners were being systematically targeted, a claim that has been widely discredited by international observers and the South African government.
In a dramatic moment, Trump reportedly dimmed the room’s lights to show video footage intended to support his claims. The footage featured a populist South African politician performing a controversial anti-apartheid song containing lyrics that reference killing farmers—content that Trump cited as justification for his remarks.
“People are fleeing South Africa for their safety,” Trump said after the short video played, echoing sentiments he has previously expressed on social media and at public events.
President Ramaphosa, maintaining a composed demeanor, reiterated his government’s position, firmly denying the existence of any organized campaign against white citizens in South Africa. The South African government has consistently condemned violence in all its forms and emphasized that farmers of all races have been affected by violent crime in a country grappling with a persistently high crime rate.
The meeting comes just days after a group of approximately 60 South African individuals were reportedly granted expedited American citizenship—a development that some analysts link to Trump’s ongoing narrative concerning South Africa.
Experts have repeatedly stated that there is no credible evidence supporting claims of racially motivated genocide against white South Africans. Analysts and human rights organizations stress that while rural crime and farm attacks remain a serious issue in South Africa, they do not follow a racial pattern and impact citizens across demographic lines.
The unexpected shift in tone during the meeting has sparked diplomatic concern, with some international commentators warning that such rhetoric could strain bilateral relations between Washington and Pretoria.
Neither the White House nor the South African Presidency has issued an official statement following the meeting.
