A tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa unfolded in the Oval Office today, marked by stark disagreements over farm violence, racial tensions, and the future of bilateral relations.
“Persecution” and Political Theater
The meeting quickly took a confrontational turn as President Trump raised concerns over the safety of white farmers in South Africa, suggesting they faced “persecution” and even likening the situation to a reversal of apartheid.
“A lot of people are very concerned with regard to South Africa,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. accepts refugees from “many locations if we feel there’s persecution or genocide going on.” His remarks came after a dramatic presentation in which the Oval Office lights were dimmed to show footage of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema singing “Kill the Boer,” alongside images of white crosses symbolizing farm murders. Jazob Zuma featured too while he was president he sang “we will beat them”, “they are gonna run” and “we will shoot them with machineguns”. This all while soldiers danced.
Ramaphosa Pushes Back: “It’s About Crime, Not Race”
President Ramaphosa firmly rejected the characterization of South Africa’s violence as racially targeted, insisting that crime affects all citizens.
“There is criminality in our country. People who get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people—the majority of them are black people,” Ramaphosa said. He emphasized that Malema’s rhetoric does not reflect government policy and stressed South Africa’s multi-party democracy.
The South African delegation sought to shift the conversation toward practical cooperation, requesting U.S. technological assistance—including Starlink internet and drones—to combat crime. “We need help in how we can have the technology and everything that is needed,” Ramaphosa said.
A Contaminated Relationship?
The leaders acknowledged strained ties, citing South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, its stance on Russia-Ukraine, and the contentious “Africana” resettlement issue. Ramaphosa framed the visit as an effort to “reset relations,” which he admitted had become “contaminated.”
Despite the friction, both sides expressed cautious optimism about future engagement, particularly on trade. Ramaphosa highlighted a new investment framework under discussion, while Trump hinted at potential progress if the farm violence issue is resolved.
What’s Next?
The meeting underscored deep divisions but left the door open for cooperation. As Ramaphosa noted, “There’s no disengagement.” The true test, however, will be whether economic collaboration can outweigh geopolitical tensions—and whether the specter of “genocide” rhetoric fades from the bilateral agenda.
South Africa Today has been covering farm attacks and farm murders since early 2014, read about more farm attacks here.