President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dedicated themselves to the White House on Trump’s -free statements on “genocide” against South African white farmers.
President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on May 21, 2025.
EVAN VUCCI/AP
In a rare scene at the Oval office, Trump had the attenuated lights to play videos on a television monitor that, according to him, supported his accusations. Ramaphosa seemed surprised by the gesture and sometimes said he had not seen what was being broadcast.
The president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and President Donald Trump watch how a video in the Oval Office of the White House is reproduced, on May 21, 2025 in Washington.
Somodevilla/Getty chip
Trump then raised what they said were news articles on violent attacks against Afrikaner whiters.
“I don’t know, all these are articles in recent days, the death of people, death, death, death, horrible death,” Trump said.
Trump said that the White South Africans were “fleeing due to violence and racist laws.”
“This is the opposite of apartheid. What is happening now is never informed. No one knows it,” he added.
President Donald Trump shows new articles while gathering with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on May 21, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
Ramaphosa retreated, saying that the clips of speeches that Trump played “is not a government policy.” Other members of the South African delegation said the speakers and their views were part of marginal political groups.
“There is crime in our country. People who are killed, unfortunately, through criminal activities are not only white, most of them are black people,” Ramaphosa said.
The South African leader said Trump would be needed “to listen to the voices of the South Africans” to change their point of view. The South African government has vehemently played accusations of genocide.
“I would say that if there was a genocide of Afrikaner farmers, I can bet that these three knights would not be here, including my Minister of Agriculture,” Ramaphosa said. “I wouldn’t be with me. Then, he will take him, President Trump, listening to his stories, to his perspective.”
President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on May 21, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
Elon Musk, a native of South Africa and the president’s main advisor during his second term, has also expressed the difficult situation of South African landowners, amplifying the “White Genocide” statements.
Musk was present for Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House. He was seen behind a sofa and did not speak during the exchange between Ramaphosa and Trump.
Sometimes, Ramaphosa sought to direct the conversation to commercial and economic investment, which said it was the “true reason to be here.” But Trump continually talked about the treatment of White South Africans.
Elon Musk attends a meeting between President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on May 21, 2025.
EVAN VUCCI/AP
Doctors of refugees Afrikaner arrived at the US. Uu. Last week after receiving their requests quickly under an executive order issued by Trump in February entitled, “addressing atrocious actions of the Republic of South Africa.”
The order argues that the South African government approved a law that allows it to “take the agricultural property of ethnic minorities of ethnic minorities without compensation” in a “shocking contempt for its” citizen rights. “Instruct that the United States will not provide help or assistance to the nation, and that the United States” promotes the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees. “
The law approved by South Africa cited by the Administration aims to address the injustices of the land established during apartheid. It establishes that the land can be expropriated in public interest and, in most cases, must be subject to compensation, whose amount must have been agreed by the owners or approved by the Court. Experts say that the law is comparable to similar legislation worldwide with respect to eminent domain.
Ramaphosa said previously that the White South Africans who are being resettled in the United States “do not fit the definition of a refugee”, someone who is leaving their country for fear of being persecuted based on race, religion, nationality or political affiliation.
Some of the first groups of White South Africans granted the refugee status that have flags of the United States while attending a meeting and greeting event, at the Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia, on May 12, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Images
Trump has been examined by prioritizing Afrikaners while moving to restrict the immigration of other places, even from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti.
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked to defend the position of the administration while testifying before a Senate panel on Tuesday.
“I think those 49 people who came strongly felt that they were persecuted, and all kinds of control brand that should be reviewed,” Rubio said. “The president identified him as a problem and wanted to use it as an example.”
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia said he believed that the statement that there is persecution of Afrikaner farmers was “completely misleading” and pointed out that the United States had not let black South Africans during apartheid.
“I think the United States has the right to allow in this country and prioritize the assignment of who they want to allow you to enter,” Rubio replied.
Shannon Kingston of ABC News contributed to this report.
