President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Tensions Rise as Trump Demands Answers on South African Land Seizures, Targeted Violence
WASHINGTON — May 21 — President Donald Trump directly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a televised Oval Office meeting on Wednesday, raising serious concerns about the treatment of South Africa’s white minority, including allegations of land confiscation and violent attacks against white farmers.
Trump presented a video and printed media reports showing disturbing claims of targeted killings and land expropriation. The President cited reports that families are fleeing rural areas for fear of violence, while their property is being taken without due process or compensation.
“People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they’re being killed,” Trump said.
South Africa Denies Claims, But Trump Pushes Back
Ramaphosa, who came to Washington to discuss trade and critical minerals, was joined by South African billionaire Johann Rupert and professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The meeting began cordially but quickly shifted when Trump raised human rights concerns.
Ramaphosa insisted that most victims of violent crime in South Africa are Black, not white. Trump interjected, asserting that farmers—the majority of whom are white—face specific threats due to their land ownership and heritage.
“The farmers are not Black,” Trump responded bluntly, after Ramaphosa attempted to generalize the crime statistics.
Trump then referenced controversial South African political figures, including Julius Malema, accusing them of inciting racial hatred. He openly questioned why such rhetoric was tolerated by the South African government and even suggested that legal action should be taken.
Land Seizure Law Sparks International Criticism
At the core of the dispute is South Africa’s land reform law, which allows expropriation without compensation if deemed in the public interest. While the South African government insists this policy aims to redress historical injustices from the apartheid era, critics warn it opens the door to racially discriminatory land seizures without proper legal safeguards.
To date, no formal expropriations have occurred, but growing rhetoric around the issue has fueled anxiety among property owners, particularly among the country’s white minority. The U.S. State Department has previously expressed concerns about potential abuses of property rights under this policy.
U.S. Responds to South Africa’s Actions on Israel
In addition to land and security issues, Trump addressed South Africa’s controversial international stance, including its genocide accusations against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The U.S. strongly opposes these claims and has criticized Pretoria for undermining a key U.S. ally.
Trump has since cut foreign aid to South Africa, expelled its ambassador, and publicly supported the right of persecuted Afrikaners to seek refuge in the United States—citing religious and racial discrimination.
Trade Relations at Risk
While Ramaphosa hoped to discuss economic cooperation and avert tariffs under the U.S.’s suspended “Liberation Day” policy, Trump emphasized that human rights and national security come first.
South Africa remains the second-largest trading partner for the United States in Africa, but tensions are rising as Washington weighs its strategic interests against what it sees as deteriorating democratic norms in Pretoria.
American Leadership Reasserted
President Trump’s strong stance at the Oval Office meeting underscored a broader message: the United States will not tolerate racially targeted violence or policies that echo the darkest chapters of history. As global conflict and authoritarianism rise, America continues to defend property rights, liberty, and human dignity—at home and abroad.
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