NewsHail
22 May 2025
President Donald Trump met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday. During the meeting, Trump showed a video he said proved white farmers in South Africa were being attacked.
The video showed many white crosses along a road. Trump said they marked the graves of white farmers who were killed. But he admitted he did not know where the video was filmed. The BBC has not confirmed if the video is real.
Ramaphosa disagreed with Trump’s claim. He said black people are more likely to be victims of violence in South Africa than white people.
Trump also asked about reports of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa. These claims have been widely denied by experts.
Ramaphosa visited the US for trade talks. He brought two famous South African golfers to help build friendly ties. He also gave Trump a big book about South African golf courses.
The meeting started off well. But then Trump asked for the lights to be dimmed to play a video. The video had the voice of South African opposition leader Julius Malema. He was singing, “Shoot the Boer, shoot the farmer.” Boer is another word for white farmer.
The video also showed a field full of crosses. Trump said it was a graveyard for murdered white farmers. He then gave Ramaphosa papers with stories about attacks on white people.
Ramaphosa replied, “That is not government policy.” He explained that South Africa is a democracy. People can say what they want, even if the government does not agree. He added that Malema’s party is small and legal under the country’s laws.
Ramaphosa said he hoped Trump would listen to what South Africans say. He pointed out white members of his group, including Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, and businessman Johann Rupert.
He said, “If there was a genocide, these men would not be here.”
Trump replied, “But you let people take land. Then they kill the white farmer. And nothing happens.”
Ramaphosa said, “No.”
Trump was talking about a new law in South Africa. It lets the government take land without paying for it, but only in special cases. The South African government said no land has been taken under the law yet.
Ramaphosa agreed that crime is a big problem. But he said most victims are black, not white.
Trump kept pushing the issue. Ramaphosa stayed calm and made a joke about giving the US a plane. He also said South Africa follows the dream of Nelson Mandela and supports peace among races.
When asked what would happen if white farmers left, Ramaphosa pointed to his white agriculture minister. The minister said most farmers want to stay.
Trump kept pressing Ramaphosa. But unlike Ukraine’s president earlier this year, Ramaphosa did not raise his voice.
A few weeks ago, 59 white South Africans came to the US and got refugee status. Ramaphosa called them “cowards.”
Ramaphosa came to the US mainly to improve trade. Soon, South African exports to the US may face 30% taxes.
Tensions between the two countries have grown since Trump started his second term in January. Around that time, Ramaphosa signed the land law.
This law hurt South Africa’s image with the US. The Trump team was already angry that South Africa took Israel to court over genocide claims.
In February, Trump cut important aid to South Africa. He also said Afrikaners — white South Africans with Dutch and French roots — could come to the US as refugees.
In March, Trump kicked out South Africa’s US ambassador. The ambassador had accused Trump of using race to stir hate and promote white victimhood.
