U.S. President Donald Trump shocked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a White House meeting by showing a controversial video that purported to depict a “genocide” of white farmers in South Africa.
The unexpected moment unfolded in the Oval Office after what began as a cordial exchange, with Trump complimenting South African golfers present at the meeting. Without warning, the lights were dimmed and a montage of clips was played.
The footage, according to Trump, showed the graves of over a thousand white farmers. “It’s a terrible sight… I’ve never seen anything like it. Those people are all killed,” Trump said.
President Ramaphosa, visibly composed but largely silent during the presentation, later remarked, “I’d like to know where that is, because this [the alleged burial site] I’ve never seen.”
The clips included footage of controversial South African political figures, including Julius Malema, singing a liberation-era song with violent lyrics, and others allegedly calling for violence against white farmers.
Trump used the footage to accuse South Africa of turning a blind eye to violence targeting the white minority.
The two Presidents and team at White House watching the purported genocide videos.
“This is persecution,” Trump said. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they are being killed.”
The incident bore similarities to Trump’s February encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the U.S. leader again used surprise tactics to assert contentious claims.
Despite the awkward exchange, Ramaphosa told reporters after the three-hour meeting that it had gone “very well.”
At a press conference, Ramaphosa firmly rejected the accusation of genocide. “There is just no genocide in South Africa,” he said, adding that South Africa remains a constitutional democracy where multiple political parties express a wide range of views.
“Our government policy is completely, completely against what you saw in that video. Those individuals represent a small minority party.”
Nevertheless, the Trump administration posted the video on its official X account, describing it as “proof of persecution in South Africa.”
Trump also displayed printed news articles purportedly showing white South Africans who had been killed, repeating the word “death” as he flipped through the pages. “Here’s burial sites all over the place. These are all white farmers being buried,” he said.
Presidents Ramaphosa and Trump watching the videos.
As Ramaphosa attempted to explain that most crime victims in South Africa are black, Trump cut in: “The farmers are not black.” Ramaphosa replied diplomatically, “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.”
The meeting came amid growing strain in U.S.-South Africa relations. In the five months leading up to the Oval Office encounter, the Trump administration had cut crucial humanitarian aid—including PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) funding, of which South Africa is the largest recipient—expelled South Africa’s ambassador, and extended refugee protections to white South Africans on the basis of alleged racial persecution.
In February, Trump issued an executive order halting all U.S. funding to South Africa, citing objections to the country’s domestic and foreign policies.
Pretoria has condemned the moves and labeled the claims of targeted violence against white citizens as misleading and racially charged.
Ramaphosa trying to explain the videos.
While Ramaphosa emphasized a willingness to continue dialogue, the confrontation underscored a deepening diplomatic rift—with South Africa having much to lose in a rapidly deteriorating relationship.
