Washington – Donald Trump has confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a dramatic Oval Office meeting, accusing the country of allowing a “genocide” against white farmers.
The former US president ordered the lights in the Oval Office dimmed as a controversial five-minute video was played, featuring inflammatory clips of South African political figures allegedly calling for violence against the country’s white minority.
In the footage, Julius Malema – leader of the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters – is seen chanting “Kill the Boer, the farmer” and declaring “We are cutting the throat of whiteness.” Another clip showed former South African President Jacob Zuma singing a controversial anti-apartheid anthem accused of fuelling racial tensions.
Trump told Ramaphosa that “thousands” of white South Africans were applying for refugee status in the US, adding: “I want to save lives.” He admitted he had not yet decided whether to label the situation as “genocide,” but insisted the matter was being taken seriously.
The video also showed roadside memorials to murdered farmers and comments from Malema suggesting revolution requires “killing.”
Trump criticised South Africa’s recently passed land reform law, which allows the government to confiscate unused land. South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who advises Trump, was reportedly in the room during the exchange.
Despite the confrontational tone, President Ramaphosa, 72, remained composed and described the footage as not reflective of government policy. “Our government is completely against what Malema was saying,” he told reporters.
When Trump asked why Malema had not been arrested, Ramaphosa replied by highlighting the presence of prominent white South Africans in his delegation, including golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
Agriculture Minister Jan Steenhuisen, also part of the South African delegation, acknowledged the country has “a rural safety problem,” but added that most farmers “really do want to stay in South Africa and make it work.” He said the Democratic Alliance’s alliance with Ramaphosa’s ANC was partly aimed at preventing “people like Malema” from coming to power.
The ANC won just 40% of the vote in South Africa’s last general election, continuing its downward trend. The Democratic Alliance secured 21%, while Zuma’s new MK party won 15% and Malema’s EFF took 10%.
Zingiswa Losi, president of COSATU, the country’s largest trade union, told Trump that violent crime in South Africa disproportionately affects black citizens. “The problem is not necessarily about race, but about crime,” she said.
Ramaphosa pointed to deep inequality and unemployment as underlying causes of the violence. “Our real reason for being here is to foster trade and investment,” he said, appealing to the US to support South Africa’s economic growth.
The high-stakes meeting ended without a diplomatic fallout, but highlighted growing international scrutiny of South Africa’s internal tensions and land reform policies.
