Trump ambushes South African leader with evidence of ‘genocide’ during Oval Office meeting
Despite tense moments, Ramaphosa says Trump ‘heard’ him, and meeting ‘went very well’
Donald Trump ambushed President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa with unsubstantiated evidence of genocide against white farmers during their Oval Office meeting on Wednesday.
The president has criticized South African land reform, which aims to address the injustices of apartheid. Trump canceled aid to the country, expelled its ambassador, and offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners based on racial discrimination claims that Pretoria says are unfounded.
After a friendly start to the meeting, Trump played a video showing an opposition leader chanting “Kill the Boer!” and what he claimed were burial sites of murdered white farmers.
The South Africans pushed back on the claims, emphasizing that the government was against the opposition’s views and that the country has a rural crime problem that impacts everyone.
Ramaphosa said earlier that no matter what, the U.S. and South Africa “are joined at the hip and we need to be talking to them.”
The South African delegation included luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert and champion golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who helped dispel tension as friends of Trump.
The president was accompanied by Vice President JD Vance and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who has accused Ramaphosa of pursuing anti-white policies.
South Africa rolls out golf diplomacy
In addition to the 14-kilogram (!) golf course photo book, the South African delegation has brought along championship golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
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A new national poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are below 50 percent on nearly every major issue — except border security.
A Marquette Law School survey, conducted May 5 to 15, found Trump holds a +12 net approval rating on border security, marking the only issue where he remains in positive territory.
Erin Keller reports from Ohio on the latest polling.
Trump is now receiving disapproving marks on nearly every key issue: poll
Trump ambushes Ramaphosa with video he claims shows burial sites of white farmers killed in 'genocide'
Ramaphosa takes a question directed to Trump about what it will take to persuade him that there isn't white genocide happening in South Africa.
“It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like those who are here. ... It will take President Trump to listen to them. I will not be repeating what I've been saying.”
Trump responds: “We have thousands of stories talking about it.”
He then directs his staff to dim the lights in the Oval Office and play a video of Julian Malema chanting “Kill the Boer!”
Trump claims the video, which runs for some time, shows the burial sites of white farmers.
Ramaphosa says: "Have they told you where that is, Mr President? I'd like to know where that is because this, I've never seen.”
Ramaphosa pushes back on Trump allegations
Ramaphosa, remaining composed, responded to the video by saying “that is not government policy” and “our government policy is completely, completely against what he was saying,” referring to the opposition leader seen in the video.
Trump doubted the response.
“When they take the land, they kill the white farmer,” he said.
Ramaphosa also noted that some members of his administration are Afrikaners.
“I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here,” he said.
Trump also produced a stack of printouts that he said were reports about slain white farmers.
“Death, death, horrible death,” he said.
Watch: Trump accuses South Africa of confiscating land, as farmers are killed
'We have too many deaths ... It's not only white farmers' says South African tycoon Rupert
South African luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert reiterates the need for South Africa to deal with crime and gangs, saying there are deaths “across the board” and not just of white farmers.
Trump says he doesn't want to involve Musk in South Africa policy
During his tense meeting with Ramaphosa, Trump noted he has “a great feeling for South Africa” and many friends in that country.
The president said some of his South African friends were at the meeting in the Oval Office, including billionaire Elon Musk.
“Elon is from South Africa,” Trump said, though he suggested that involving Musk in U.S.-South African relations could cause more controversy.
“I don’t want to get Elon involved,” Trump said. “I don’t want to talk to him about that. I don’t think it’s fair to him.”
White House X account amplifies video Trump showed in South Africa meeting
The White House is promoting a video that Trump showed during his meeting with South Africa’s president, which the U.S. president suggests shows politically motivated slayings occurring in that country.
The official White House X account posted an emoji of a siren and the title “JUST SHOWN IN THE OVAL OFFICE: Proof of Persecution in South Africa” over a video Trump had shown during his meeting with Ramaphosa. Trump said the video showed killings and suggested that white South African farmers were being targeted.
The post of the video came even as Trump’s meeting with Ramaphosa was still happening.
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