Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump utilized the White House Conference to firmly confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of neglecting the rampant targeted killings of white farmers.
In the Oval Office, Trump dimmed the lights and played a video featuring a far-left politician singing a song with the line “Kill the Farmers.” He also presented news articles to bolster his assertions, claiming that the nation’s white farmers are experiencing “death, death, death, horrifying death.”
Trump has already halted all US aid to South Africa, welcoming numerous white South African farmers to the United States and suggesting that “genocide” is ongoing in the country.
The US President faced a series of accusations regarding a black-led South African government that allegedly confiscated land from white farmers and enacted anti-white policies, along with adopting an anti-American foreign policy.
South African experts argue that farmers of all ethnicities are victims of violent home invasions in a nation plagued by high crime rates, noting no evidence exists that white individuals are specifically targeted.
“People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” said Trump. “Their land has been taken, and in many cases, they have been killed.”
Ramaphosa rejected Trump’s claims, asserting that South African leaders aim to clarify the situation in order to preserve their country’s relationship with the United States. Bilateral ties have reached a low point since the end of apartheid in 1994.
“We completely oppose that,” Ramaphosa stated regarding Trump’s allegations. He emphasized, “It is not a policy of our government,” and “our government policies are entirely contrary to what he is asserting.”
Trump remained unfazed.
“When they seize the land, they kill the white farmers,” he reiterated.
“The president is a highly respected man in many circles,” Trump remarked about Ramaphosa at the onset of the conference, adding, “And in some circles, he is considered somewhat controversial.”
Ramaphosa indicated the need to “realign” the relationship and expressed gratitude to Trump for his hospitality during the visit to the White House.
“We’re essentially here to reset relations between the US and South Africa,” he said.
Trump issued an executive order in February, cutting off all funds to South Africa due to its domestic and foreign policies. The order criticized the South African government on multiple fronts for pursuing anti-white policies domestically and for supporting “bad actors” worldwide, including the Palestinian extremist group Hamas and Iran.
Trump inaccurately condemned the South African government for violating the rights of white farmers by implementing new expropriation laws. The land has not been seized, and the South African government has defended itself against these accusations, which are fueled by misinformation.
References by the Trump administration to farmers of European descent have renewed claims made by South African-born advisor Elon Musk and conservative US commentators that the South African government is facilitating attacks on white farmers, comparable to genocide.
This notion is contested by South African experts. They assert that there is no evidence of targeted attacks against white individuals, while farmers of all races are enduring violent home invasions in a country beset by high crime rates.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on Tuesday that Trump is prepared to “reset” relations with South Africa, underscoring that the administration’s grievances with South African policies extend beyond concerns about white farmers.
South Africa has also ruffled the feathers of the Trump administration by pursuing charges in the International Court of Justice against Israel, accusing it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Ramaphosa is also under scrutiny in Washington due to previous associations with MTN Group, Iran’s second-largest telecom provider, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. He served on MTN’s board from 2002 to 2013.
“If a country is not consistently aligned with the United States, as has been expressed, you need to come to a conclusion about it,” Rubio advised members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations during a hearing on Tuesday.
The significant differences appear to have encouraged Ramaphosa to take measures to avoid the contentious engagement that Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelensky faced during his Oval Office visit in late February when Ukrainian leaders felt strained by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. This led to a debacle where the White House officials asked Zelensky and his delegation to vacate the premises.
Ramaphosa’s delegation also included golfer Ernie Els, along with others who share a passion for golf. Business tycoon Johann Rupert was part of the delegation to alleviate Trump’s apprehensions about land expropriation from white farmers.
Musk was also present at the discussion on Wednesday.
Musk has faced criticism for his hometown assessments, framing his remarks as racially charged against white individuals.
On social media, Musk claimed that his Starlink Satellite Internet Service is non-black and therefore cannot obtain a license to operate in South Africa.
South African authorities contend that Starlink has not formally applied for a license but can do so, subject to the Affirmative Action Act, which mandates that foreign enterprises ensure 30% of their South African subsidiaries are owned by individuals from disadvantaged racial backgrounds.
The South African government argues that its longstanding affirmative action laws are intended to rectify historical injustices against black people and other racial groups under apartheid.
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Imray reported from Johannesburg. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Chris Megerian, and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com