Trump ambushes South African president with videos of ‘white persecution'
21 May 2025 5:51pm
5:50PM
Ramaphosa 'visibly uncomfortable' as Trump plays 'persecution' footage
In an extraordinary moment, the US president ordered staffers to dim the lights and play a video showcasing 'white persecution' in South Africa, Connor Stringer writes.
Visibly uncomfortable, President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared to turn away to speak to Donald Trump, who in turn pointed at him to continue watching.
Soon after, Mr Trump flicked through a series of news articles printed out on A4 paper showcasing apparent white persecution.
5:46PM
Trump: 'Over a thousand' white farmers dead
'These are burial sites right here, over a thousand of white farmers and those cars are lined up to pay love on a Sunday morning,' Donald Trump says, narrating over the footage.
'Those cars aren't driving. They're stopped there to pay respects to their family member who was killed, and it's a terrible sight. I've never seen anything like it.'
He says he does not know what he wants Cyril Ramaphosa to do about the video he has just played for the South African president.
'White South Africans are fleeing because of the violence and racist laws... I don't know,' he says.
5:41PM
Trump plays footage of 'white persecution'
Donald Trump requests the lights to be dimmed in the Oval Office to show Cyril Ramaphosa videos about persecution of white South Africans.
'We have thousands of stories talking about it, we have documentaries, we have news stories... it has to be responded to,' he tells the South African president.
The two men are now sitting in silence as they watch the footage.
5:35PM
Musk makes an appearance
Elon Musk, who is originally from South Africa, is sitting in on the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Ramaphosa.
He is standing behind one of the Oval Office couches, which vice president JD Vance and security secretary Pete Hegseth are perched on.
Mr Musk yesterday said he would begin to contribute less financially to political causes, as part of a slow retreat from the White House in order to concentrate on his businesses.
Mr Vance previously said Mr Musk would remain as a friend an an advisor to both he and the president.
5:31PM
Trump: White farmers are being persecuted
Donald Trump is asked why it is appropriate for the US to take white refugees from South Africa, a point of tension between the two countries.
'This is a group MSNBC that is truly fake news... they ask a lot of questions in a truly pointed way,' he says, hitting out at the questioner.
'We've had tremendous complaints about Africa and other countries too. They say there's a lot of bad things going on in Africa, and that's what we're going to be discussing today,' he says.
'A lot of people are very concerned with regard to South Africa that's really the purpose of the meeting,' he continues adding that many people 'feel they are being persecuted'.
Mr Trump says the people 'being persecuted are 'generally... white farmers and they're fleeing South Africa and it's a very sad thing to see'.
He tells Cyril Ramaphosa: 'I hope we have an explanation of that, because I know you don't want that.'
5:26PM
Ramaphosa: We've got critical minerals that you want
Cyril Ramaphosa thanks Donald Trump for 'allowing your people to start discussions with us at a trade level' and says he wants to 'reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa'.
He continues: 'We want to advance more trade between the two of us... we hope that we will be able to fuel that engagement during out talks.'
Mr Ramaphosa says links between the two countries are 'really long-lasting and we would like to recalibrate those relations between our two countries and discuss the whole range of issues,' including Ukraine and the Middle East.
'We've got critical minerals that you want to fuel the growth of your own economy,' he adds.
He tells Mr Trump he has started practising golf at his advice, telling the US president: 'I'm ready.'
5:22PM
Trump: Ramaphosa is 'a little controversial'
Donald Trump pays tribute to Cyril Ramaphosa as a 'truly respected man in many many circles... in some circles he's considered a little controversial'.
He says they will be 'discussing some of things that are taking place in South Africa,' and adds he has 'a lot of friends' that live in South Africa.
5:06PM
Ramaphosa arrives at White House
Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, has arrived at the White House for a lunch and bilateral meeting with Donald Trump.
Mr Ramaphosa shook Mr Trump's hand at the entrance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, before walking inside with the US president.
The meeting comes after Mr Trump accused Pretoria of carrying out a 'genocide' against white Afrikaner farmers, allegations South Africa has vehemently denied.
5:00PM
Mineral wealth could be key talking point
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum group metals, manganese and chrome, all of which are used by US industry.
A quarter of all US imports of nine critical minerals, including manganese and platinum, come from South Africa.
Donald Trump has already cut a deal to access Ukraine's mineral wealth and is in the process of negotiating one with Democratic Republic of Congo. He may see an opportunity with South Africa.
However, Gwede Mantashe, mining and petroleum minister, has said the delegation would not make any mineral deal without first consulting ministers and industry.
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