Oval Office Showdown Escalates as Trump Accuses Ramaphosa’s Government of Anti-White and Anti-American Policies
- President Trump presented video footage to South African President Ramaphosa alleging persecution of white farmers.
- The White House publicly shared the video clip, captioned “Proof of Persecution in South Africa.”
- Trump previously cut U.S. aid to South Africa and granted refugee status to dozens of white South Africans.
- Experts and South African officials reject Trump’s claims as inaccurate and politically inflammatory.
- Ramaphosa used the Oval Office meeting to defend his government and attempt to repair U.S.-South Africa relations.
In a highly charged Oval Office meeting on May 21, 2025, President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video that depicted alleged incitement against white farmers, including chants such as “kill the Boer, kill the farmer.”
The White House later posted the footage on its official X account with the caption: “JUST SHOWN IN THE OVAL OFFICE: Proof of Persecution in South Africa.”
— South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa responded firmly, stating that the violent rhetoric shown in the video is not endorsed by the South African government. He emphasized that his administration is committed to non-racial policies and condemned hate speech in all forms. “That is not government policy,” Ramaphosa said, pushing back against Trump’s accusations during their exchange.
The meeting occurred amid heightened tensions between Washington and Pretoria. According to AP News, Trump had already cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa and welcomed dozens of white South African farmers to the U.S. as refugees, reinforcing his long-standing claims that a “genocide” is underway in the country.
“People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” Trump said during the meeting. “Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they’re being killed.” He also accused South Africa’s Black-led government of enforcing anti-white policies, seizing land from white farmers, and pursuing an anti-American foreign agenda.
South African officials and independent crime researchers dispute this narrative. According to AP News, experts in South Africa report that farmers of all races are affected by high rates of rural crime and home invasions. No credible data supports the claim that white South Africans are being specifically targeted for racial reasons.
The confrontation comes at a time when U.S.-South Africa relations are experiencing their deepest strain since the apartheid era. President Ramaphosa reportedly sought to use the Oval Office meeting to clarify his country’s policies and salvage diplomatic ties with Washington, which have deteriorated significantly in recent months.
The White House also posted a separate video of the full Oval Office bilateral meeting on its official channel. Watch the full video here.
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