U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House with allegations of mass killings and land seizures from white people, in a scene reminiscent of his February ambush of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, raising allegations of mass killings and land seizures targeting white people in South Africa. Trump cited concerns about persecution and referenced claims that white farmers are fleeing South Africa, seeking refuge in the United States. During the televised meeting, Trump presented a video and articles he said supported his assertions.

President Ramaphosa responded by rejecting the allegations, stating that crime in South Africa affects people of all races, with the majority of victims being black South Africans. Ramaphosa expressed willingness to discuss the concerns, noting that he had not previously seen the video presented by Trump and would investigate its content further. He pointed to South Africa's history, stating that the country had undergone significant change since the end of apartheid, which was characterized by discrimination against black South Africans.

Trump has voiced criticism of South Africa’s new land reform law, which allows for land expropriation without compensation under certain circumstances, such as when land is unused. According to the information provided, no expropriations have occurred to date, and any proposed action can be challenged in court.

In addition to raising concerns about land reform, Trump has opposed South Africa's genocide court case against Israel. The U.S. president has taken actions including canceling aid, expelling South Africa’s ambassador, and offering refuge to white Afrikaners based on what Pretoria describes as baseless claims of racial discrimination.




Trump confronts South African president with genocide claims

A lot of people are very concerned with regard to South Africa. U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday with allegations of mass killings and land seizures from white people. We have many people that feel they're being persecuted and they're coming to the United States. So we take from many, many locations if we feel there's persecution or genocide going on. Generally, they're white farmers and they're fleeing South Africa. South Africa rejects the allegation that white people are disproportionately targeted by crime. There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people. Majority of them are black people. And we have now been utilizing... The farmers are not black. You are raising concerns, and these are concerns that we are willing to talk to you about. Ramaphosa arrived saying he wanted to discuss trade and critical minerals. The televised Oval Office meeting got off to a cordial start. What a group of golfers South Africa has had. But then took a turn in a scene reminiscent of Trump's February ambush of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. Turn the lights down. On Wednesday, Trump showed a video and held up printed articles purporting to show evidence to back up his unfounded claims that white South Africans are being persecuted. Ramaphosa said he had not seen the video before and that he would like to find out what the location was. South Africa endured centuries of draconian discrimination against black people during colonialism and apartheid before becoming a multi-party democracy in 1994 under Nelson Mandela. It rejects Trump's allegations. I would say if there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here, including my minister of agriculture. He would not be with me. In recent months, Trump has criticized a new land reform law aimed at redressing the injustices of apartheid. The law allows for expropriations without compensation when in the public interest. For example, if land is lying fallow. No such expropriation has taken place, and any order can be challenged in court. Trump has also criticized South Africa's genocide court case against Israel. Trump has canceled aid, expelled South Africa's ambassador, and offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners based on racial discrimination claims Pretoria says are baseless.

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