What began as a diplomatic meeting aimed at strengthening U.S.-South Africa economic ties quickly took a dramatic turn, as former U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the controversial issue of white farmer killings and land reform. The two leaders met in Washington, D.C., amid hopes of trade discussions, but the encounter soon veered into tense territory.
The meeting followed a familiar Trump playbook, with initial praise for his guest and talk of economic cooperation. But shortly after, Trump aired a provocative video that portrayed graphic scenes and claimed there was a “genocide” against white South African farmers. He accused Ramaphosa’s government of turning a blind eye to these crimes and engaging in illegal land confiscations — a narrative often pushed by far-right groups in the U.S.
Despite the ambush, President Ramaphosa remained composed. In a measured response, he acknowledged U.S. concerns but clarified that the so-called “Kill the Boer” chants were not representative of his government or mainstream South African sentiment. “These are fringe voices from minority parties outside of government,” he said, denouncing hate speech while reiterating South Africa’s commitment to racial reconciliation.
To reinforce his point, Ramaphosa brought in Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen—a white South African politician—to explain that farm killings are largely acts of criminal violence, not racially targeted attacks. Steenhuisen added that the victims of violent crime in South Africa span across all racial and socioeconomic groups, and that the government is working to address broader public safety issues.
Ramaphosa invoked the legacy of Nelson Mandela, stating that South Africa remained grounded in Mandela’s vision of unity and equality. He expressed interest in working with U.S. firms and agencies to bring in crime-fighting technologies that could benefit both urban and rural communities. “Let’s work together to solve problems, not deepen divides,” he said.
When a journalist asked what would happen if white farmers began leaving South Africa en masse, Ramaphosa deflected the question to Steenhuisen. The minister responded that the majority of white farmers had no desire to leave and remained committed to their work and their communities. “They are part of the fabric of South African society,” Steenhuisen emphasized.
Trump, however, appeared unfazed and continued launching criticisms, drawing comparisons to his previously fraught meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Yet unlike Zelensky, Ramaphosa did not engage in a shouting match. Instead, he remained diplomatic, stating he was there to build bridges and find common ground.
As the conversation turned toward the G20 Summit, which will be hosted in South Africa later this year, Trump dismissed the importance of the summit, saying that without U.S. participation, “the G20 is not very important.” In contrast, Ramaphosa graciously reminded Trump that the U.S. was one of the original architects of the G20 and said South Africa was “overjoyed” to pass the chairmanship to the U.S. in 2026. “We expect the U.S. to continue playing a leadership role in global cooperation,” Ramaphosa concluded.
