In a dramatic turn during what was expected to be a routine diplomatic meeting, United States President, Donald Trump, startled South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, by screening a video that claimed to show a “genocide” of white farmers in South Africa.
The unexpected move unfolded in the Oval Office, where a once cordial atmosphere shifted as the lights dimmed and a montage of controversial clips began playing.
The footage, which included images of alleged graves of over a thousand white farmers, was introduced by Trump with somber commentary, “It’s a terrible sight… I’ve never seen anything like it. Those people are all killed.” Ramaphosa, sitting quietly and largely expressionless, later questioned the authenticity of the content: “I’d like to know where that is because this [the alleged burial site in the video] I’ve never seen.”
Clips in the presentation also featured South African officials allegedly inciting violence, including one of Julius Malema singing a contentious anti-apartheid song with lyrics referencing killing farmers.
The White House’s official X account later posted the video, branding it as “proof of persecution in South Africa.”
Trump didn’t hold back in his remarks, accusing the South African government of negligence.
“We have many people that feel they’re being persecuted, and they’re coming to the United States… if we feel there’s persecution or genocide going on,” he said, referencing white farmers specifically. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they’re being killed.”
Flipping through printed news articles he claimed were evidence of white farmers’ deaths, Trump repeatedly uttered, “death, death,” and declared, “Here’s burial sites all over the place, these are all white farmers that are being buried.”
President Ramaphosa, however, firmly rejected the allegations. “There is just no genocide in South Africa,” he stated during a press conference after the nearly three-hour meeting. He further clarified: “What you saw, the speeches that were being made, that is not government policy. We have a multi-party democracy in South Africa that allows people to express themselves, political parties to adhere to various policies. And in many cases, or in some cases, those policies do not go along with government policy. Our government policy is completely, completely against what he [a person in the video montage] was saying, even in the parliament. And they are a small minority party which is allowed to exist in terms of our constitution.”
The incident bore similarities to Trump’s prior Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he also used visuals and unvetted content to support his narrative.
During the South African leader’s visit, Trump’s references to a looming “bloodbath” and use of outdated video clips framed a scene of orchestrated political theatre.
Ramaphosa’s composed response, from questioning video locations to calmly noting policy differences – reflected a strategic restraint, especially with billions in trade at stake.
Despite the tense exchange, Ramaphosa maintained that the meeting “went very well,” and emphasized the reality that black South Africans are the primary victims of violent crime in the country.
When he began to make that point, Trump interjected: “The farmers are not black.” To which Ramaphosa replied: “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.”
Yet, beyond the confrontation, deeper diplomatic strains linger. In the span of just five months, the Trump administration had suspended crucial aid programs, notably HIV assistance where South Africa is the largest beneficiary, expelled its ambassador, and opened the door to granting refugee status to white South Africans, even as millions of black Africans face widespread hardship.
The tense climate was further underscored as cameras captured a silent Elon Musk at the rear of the room. Musk, who has echoed white genocide claims on his platform X, is seeking Starlink approval in South Africa, a pursuit now entangled in the charged atmosphere between the two nations.
In Ramaphosa’s words, “We are completely opposed to that.” His deliberate calm and diplomatic poise may have served as tools of peacekeeping, but whether they will be effective amidst rising tensions remains uncertain.
VIDEO:https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1925237453331316969?t=aOYXk13ZrWVWqDyTgvpGNg&s=19