WATCH: Donald Trump ambushes Cyril Ramaphosa in Oval Office

The meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa started off with an extremely amicable discussion, but later descended into chaos and shifted to the topic of violence against white farmers and Afrikaners in South Africa.

Ramaphosa and Trump met at the White House in Washington on Wednesday.

The meeting comes just days after the US welcomed a group of 49 Afrikaners as “refugees”. Trump falsely claimed they are being persecuted in South Africa due to their race and are facing a “genocide”.

Wednesday’s heated meeting marks the latest in a string of unusually tense Oval Office meetings between Trump and foreign leaders.

It comes amid heightened tensions between the US and South Africa over claims by Trump and South Africa-born Elon Musk about the country’s racial equity laws, which prompted the US to recently admit white South African refugees while barring refugees from other countries.

Ramaphosa ambushed by Trump

In a high-stakes confrontation, Trump ambushed Ramaphosa with graphic footage alleging “white genocide” against South African farmers.

The Trump delegation clearly came to the meeting prepared, playing old controversial videos about EFF leader Julius Malema singing “Kill the Boer, Kill the farmer”.

The videos played by the Trump administration backed up the misinformation that there are mass killings against white South Africans and Afrikaners.

Trump made unsubstantiated claims about genocide and South Africa’s treatment of white farmers.

WATCH: Ramaphosa tells Trump to listen to South African voices

[WATCH] "It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like the ones who are here. I'm not going to be repeating what I have been saying. If there was Afrikaaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen… pic.twitter.com/7etHu4nj9f

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 21, 2025

ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘Fear not’ Ramaphosa says, as Johann Rupert and Ernie Els expected to join Trump meeting

Unsubstantiated claims  

Ramaphosa began by turning away from the videos, sitting silently in his chair, shifting his eyes and smiling. He was visibly surprised.

However, Ramaphosa was calm and handled the situation well.

Trump also presented articles to Ramaphosa to prove that “very bad things are happening in South Africa”.

Trump told Ramaphosa that South Africa is taking people’s land away from them. “Those people in many cases are being executed, and they happen to be white.”

Afrikaner refugees

When asked why he accepts refugees from South Africa and no other countries, Trump said there are “concerns” about South Africa.

“We do have a lot of people concerned with regards to South Africa, that’s the purpose of the meeting. We have many people who feel they are being persecuted… I must tell you, Mr President [Ramaphosa],  we have had a tremendous number of people [white farmers] who are fleeing South Africa, and it’s a very sad thing to see.”

Burial site of white farmers

Trump showed Ramaphosa another video, claiming to be of a burial site of white farmers.

While the video played, Trump seemed disgusted.

“It’s a terrible sight, never seen anything like it.”

Ramaphosa asks Trump about the videos.

 “Have they told you where that is, Mr President?” Trump replied, “No”.

Ramaphosa said he’d like to know where it is, as he’s never seen it before. “It’s in South Africa,” Trump responded.

Donald Trump has ambushed South Africa's President by playing videos which he claims pertain to allegations of 'genocide' in South Africa.

"I'd like to know where that is because this [the videos] I've never seen" Cyril Ramaphos responded.https://t.co/ePDAgEPC2G

📺 Sky 501/YT pic.twitter.com/zTCzw4F5Zf

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 21, 2025

ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘SA is out of control,’ Trump says ahead of meeting with Ramaphosa

Trump’s claims refuted

Ramaphosa, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and renowned businessman Johann Rupert refuted Trump’s claims of a white genocide occurring in South Africa.

Steenhuisen said the majority of farmers want to stay in South Africa rather than leave.

The DA leader said the country has prioritised protecting white farmers, including preventing livestock theft.

Steenhuisen reminded Trump that the people shown in the video that was played in the Oval Office are not government officials.

“We need support from allies so we can strengthen our economy and shut the door on people like Malema,” Steenhuisen said.

Rupert put paid to the “white genocide” narrative Trump seems so fond of.

Rupert told Trump that crime is a “South African problem” and occurs everywhere.

“We have too many deaths, but it’s across the board. It’s not only white farmers. It is across the board.”

Trump must ‘listen’

Ramaphosa said Trump must listen to the voices of South Africans.

“It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like the ones who are here. I’m not going to be repeating what I have been saying. If there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen wouldn’t be here, including my minister of agriculture,” Ramaphosa said.

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa not ‘apprehensive’ about meeting with Trump, Presidency says [VIDEO]

Clarification

Ramaphosa clarified his position on Trump’s accusations, saying South Africa has a democracy that allows people to express themselves.

“There is criminality in our country, and the people who get killed in South Africa are not only white people, but also include black people.”

Ramaphosa said Malema’s speech and actions are not “government policy”.

Trump then asked Ramaphosa why Malema was not arrested.

“Why don’t you arrest that man (referring to Malema). He is going around threatening to kill white farmers. He sings and dances. Why isn’t he arrested?

Ramaphosa did not answer as the media asked questions.

White farmers in danger in South Africa?

Donald Trump just brought in a TV into Oval Office for Cyril Ramaphosa to see the genocidal rhetoric coming from many South African top politicians.#Ramaphosa#Trump #SouthAfrica
pic.twitter.com/iFU1eXt9Ad

— Sonia Beloch (@sonia_0707_) May 21, 2025

Trade

Ramaphosa steered the conversation to trade, mentioning a technology partnership between the US and South Africa.

Ramaphosa said he wants to sit down and have a good conversation with Trump away from the media, which can lead to “good outcomes”.

Golfer Ernie Els said he’s a “proud South African”, but he wants to see things get better in his home country.

Els spoke about growing up during apartheid, telling the Oval Office that “two wrongs don’t make a right”, referring to crimes against white South Africans today.

“We wanted to come here to meet you and see the way forward, see our nation flourish.”

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