Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sources from Mehr News Agency: The Americans have requested, through intermediaries from various countries, the continuation of negotiations with Iran
Mehr News Agency, citing sources: The Iranian Foreign Ministry is considering a US request to continue negotiations after they failed to halt Iran's nuclear capabilities
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five martyrs and several wounded after the occupation targeted a group of civilians in Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City
Hamas: The comprehensive failure, military, political, and moral, exposes the falsehoods of the Zionist propaganda machine and reaffirms that our struggle is one of willpower and steadfastness
Hamas: Hamas: The slogans of "crushing defeat" and "total eradication" of the movement have collapsed in the face of explosive tunnels and the Resistance’s ambushes
Hamas: 640 days into the aggression, the occupation has utterly failed to break Gaza’s will or subdue its resistance
Iranian FM spokesperson denies Trump’s claims about Iran requesting a meeting with the US: We have made no such request to the American side
OHCHR: We have concerns that Nasser's arrest is part of efforts to eliminate legitimate forms of Palestinian expression
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Six killed or injured in Israeli drone strike on displaced persons’ tents in Sanabel camp, al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Several injuries reported as a result of the drone strike on the displaced persons' tent in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis

Trump pushes white genocide false claim to South Africa's Ramaphosa

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 May 2025 23:53
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Trump confronted South African President Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide during a tense Oval Office meeting focused on the land reform laws in Ramaphosa's country.

Listen
  • x
  • President Donald Trump greets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Washington (AP)
    President Donald Trump greets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

In a tense Oval Office meeting on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with discredited claims of a so-called "white genocide" and unlawful land seizures in South Africa, echoing far-right talking points widely debunked by international observers.

Anticipating a hostile reception, Ramaphosa arrived in Washington accompanied by high-profile white South Africans, including golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as part of an effort to focus discussions on trade and economic cooperation.

But Trump steered the meeting in a different direction. Launching into an orchestrated presentation, he accused South Africa of persecuting white farmers and confiscating land, bolstering his remarks with a video montage and a stack of printed articles, claiming they substantiated his concerns.

“People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they're being killed,” Trump stated, citing what he called evidence of persecution against white South African farmers.

Despite Trump’s assertions, no land seizures without compensation have occurred under South Africa’s new land reform legislation, which permits such action only when in the public interest and subject to court review.

The law aims to rectify historic apartheid-era land dispossession, but Trump described it as “sort of the opposite of apartheid.”

Ramaphosa refutes claims with symbolic delegation

Sitting beside Trump, Ramaphosa remained calm and countered the allegations directly, pointing to the presence of white South Africans, including billionaire Johann Rupert, as evidence that fears of an anti-white campaign were baseless.

“If this were happening,” Ramaphosa said, referencing the alleged killings and expropriations, “they would not be here.”

Trump, however, was unsatisfied with the response. He directed aides to dim the Oval Office lights before airing a video that depicted white crosses and inflammatory clips of South African opposition leader Julius Malema, claiming the footage depicted targeted killings and demanding Malema’s arrest.

Throughout the presentation, Ramaphosa maintained a reserved demeanor, expressing unfamiliarity with the video and stating he would look into its origins.

Trump’s display of propaganda material escalates tensions

Trump continued the performance by flipping through pages of printed news reports, reportedly repeating the word “death” as he passed the materials to Ramaphosa.

The South African leader acknowledged the country’s crime issues but emphasized that the overwhelming majority of victims were Black South Africans.

When Ramaphosa invoked Nelson Mandela’s legacy of peace and reconciliation, Trump interrupted, asserting that the farmers he referred to were not Black, pressing further on what many observers view as a racist conspiracy theory.

Far-right rhetoric shapes US foreign posturing

Trump’s aggressive stance reflects a broader ideological alignment with far-right narratives both domestically and internationally. His administration has intensified criticism of South Africa not only over land redistribution policies but also for Pretoria’s genocide case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

By raising unsubstantiated genocide claims during high-level diplomatic engagements, Trump has amplified a narrative widely promoted by white nationalist groups and far-right media, despite it being discredited by human rights watchdogs and South African statistics.

The Oval Office encounter bore similarities to Trump’s confrontational diplomacy style, notably during a 2020 ambush of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. This latest episode has drawn renewed scrutiny over the influence of ideological extremism in shaping US foreign policy rhetoric.

  • White genocide theory
  • South Africa
  • Cyril Ramaphosa
  • Donald Trump
  • white house

Most Read

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' peace deal

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' normalization

  • MENA
  • 4 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • Today
Al-Qassam hits IOF groupings in Khan Younis; ‘tough incident’ reported

3 Israeli soldiers killed by Resistance gunfire in south, north Gaza

  • Palestine
  • 4 Jul 2025
Concrete and rubble fall from a heavily damaged building as Israeli soldiers search for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)

'Israel' concealed damage inflicted by Iran in war, report finds

  • Politics
  • 5 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Big beautiful bill's ugly reality for American healthcare
US & Canada

'Big beautiful bill's' ugly reality for American healthcare

Ukrainian Forces struggle to hold Eastern front lines: NYT
Europe

Ukrainian forces struggle to hold eastern frontlines: NYT

Plan proposes transit camps for Gazans ahead of possible relocation
US & Canada

GHF proposed 'transit areas' plan prior to Gaza residents 'relocation'

Lavrov: IAEA will be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments
Europe

IAEA to be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments: Lavrov

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS