South African President Cyril Ramaphosa disputed Trump’s assertions about anti-white violence during a contentious Oval Office meeting.
During a Wednesday meeting in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump extensively discussed unsubstantiated allegations and conspiracy theories regarding a purported genocide against white farmers in South Africa with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. President Ramaphosa, however, showed little inclination to entertain these assertions about his nation.
In response to a journalist’s question about what might convince President Trump that no white genocide was occurring in South Africa, President Ramaphosa intervened, suggesting that a change in Trump’s viewpoint would necessitate “listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom he is good friends with, like those who are here.” Ramaphosa emphasized, “It will take him, President Trump, listening to their stories, to their perspective.”
Recently, participants at the NAMPO agricultural show in Bothaville, Free State—South Africa’s premier agricultural exhibition—firmly denied any claims of being genocide victims. South African courts have also dismissed these allegations, preventing financial support to white supremacist organizations promoting the theory. Despite this, President Trump has accorded refugee status to more than 50 white South Africans and excluded the South African government from the upcoming G20 summit, scheduled to be held in South Africa.
The assertion that white South Africans, especially farmers and Afrikaners, have faced systematic, genocidal, anti-white violence in the post-Apartheid era has circulated for many years, stemming from broader global white genocide conspiracy narratives. These claims have been consistently challenged, with investigations by both international bodies and South African authorities concluding that rural crime affects both Black and white farmers and their workers. A New York Times data analysis revealed that from April 2020 to March 2024, South African police recorded 225 farm-related homicides. The report specified, “Many of the victims — 101 — were current or former workers living on farms, who are mostly Black,” while “Fifty-three of the victims were farmers, who are usually white.”
President Trump appeared unconvinced during the Wednesday discussion, at one stage presenting President Ramaphosa with a collection of printed articles purportedly detailing the murder of a white farmer. Ramaphosa had consistently tried to correct Trump’s account respectfully. While leafing through the documents, Trump reiterated, “Death. Death. Death.”
Following Ramaphosa’s suggestion that Trump consider the viewpoints of South Africans, Trump ordered the Oval Office lights to be dimmed. He then showed video footage featuring members of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party performing the contentious anti-Apartheid song “Kill the Boer.” Additionally, social media clips depicting white crucifixes along a South African highway, allegedly symbolizing murdered white farmers, were displayed.
“I would be interested to know the location of this, as I have never encountered it,” Ramaphosa remarked.
“It’s in South Africa,” Trump responded, though he did not provide a precise location.
President Ramaphosa also sought to clarify that although the EFF’s songs were controversial within South Africa itself, and he personally did not agree with their message, the party operated under constitutional safeguards and free speech rights that prevented governmental suppression.
Addressing the press present in the Oval Office, President Trump frequently lamented that the “fake news” media allegedly ignored the purported race-based killings. He contrasted this with criticism he faced for the U.S. accepting a $400 million aircraft from Qatar, a transaction the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.
At one juncture, an apparently frustrated Ramaphosa commented, “I wish I had a plane to give you.”
Trump retorted, “I wish you did. I would take it. If your country offered the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it.”
Other attendees appeared perplexed by what seemed to be a pre-planned confrontation and grievance airing by President Trump. South African businessman Johann Rupert intervened at one point, trying to convey to Trump that South Africa indeed experiences “too many deaths. It’s across the board. It’s not only white farmers. It’s across the board.” Rupert further urged Trump to facilitate the provision of American technology, such as drones and Starlink (a venture led by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who often engages with conspiracy theories), to South African law enforcement to aid in reducing rural crime.