Latest news with #Zelensky-style
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Gives SA President the Zelensky Treatment in Crazy White Genocide Rant
It was meant to be a meeting to reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa, but it quickly turned into another awkward Zelensky-style moment in the Oval Office. In Washington to discuss trade and world peace with Donald Trump, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa found himself being confronted by Trump with a video showing the alleged burial grounds of dead white farmers he claimed were killed by black South Africans trying to take their land. 'You're taking people's land away from them, and those people in many cases are being executed,' Trump said, with the world's most famous white South African, Elon Musk, standing nearby. 'They're being executed and they happen to be white and most of them happen to be farmers... I don't know how do you explain that.' The meeting began cordially enough, with Ramaphosa bringing famous South African golfer Ernie Els and a 14-kilogram golfing book to curry favor with Trump. But things took a turn a few minutes later when a reporter asked Trump what it would take to convince him that there was no genocide. Ramaphosa decided to step in and answer the question. 'It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends,' he said. 'I would say, if there was African farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here, including my minister of agriculture (who is white and from an opposition party). He would not be with me. So it will take him, President Trump, listening to their stories, to their perspective. That is the answer to your question.' Trump was having none of it. As tensions escalated, Trump ordered his staff to turn the lights down so he could play a video showing the alleged grave treatment of white farmers, including apparent burial sites of those he claimed had been killed by black South Africans. 'Now these are very bad. Right here, burial sites, over a thousand white farmers,' he said. 'It's a terrible sight, I've never seen anything like it.' The plight of white farmers in South Africa has been a pet project of Trump's since his first term, where he amplified allegations by some Afrikaners that they are being harassed, and in some cases, killed by black South Africans. In recent months he has also expelled the South African ambassador to the US and given political asylum to white farmers. The first group of arrived in the US a few weeks ago. Ramaphosa sought to push back on Trump's claims, at one point quizzing the president on where the burial sites on the video were located, as he had not seen them in his country. Tensions eased when Els was invited to speak. He told the president he was a proud South African who had grown up during apartheid, but added: 'Two wrongs don't make a right. 'We want to see the way forward and see our nation flourish,' he said. Trump told the former champion that he was a better speaker than a golfer, prompting laughs from those in the room.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Memo: Zelensky 2.0? Trump's ambush of Ramaphosa caters to MAGA base
President Trump for the second time used a meeting with a major foreign leader to cater to his own base on Wednesday. This time it was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who Trump used as a foil, just as he and Vice President Vance had hammered on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in late February. The Ramaphosa meeting was not quite so stormy as the confrontation with Zelensky, which made instant global headlines. But it had plenty of tension. And it appeared just as much of a preplanned ambush, especially when Trump asked for the lights in the Oval Office to be lowered so he could show a video of incendiary remarks from South African politicians. Trump referred to the speeches as coming from 'officials,' a term that could be taken to imply the speakers were members of Ramaphosa's government. They are not, as both the South African president and his agriculture minister, who was also present, sought to make clear. Still, Trump seemed undeterred by those points, continuing to insist that the situation in South Africa is akin to an anti-white apartheid and that people who kill white farmers enjoy de facto immunity. Ramaphosa and his colleagues tried as best as they could to push back on those assertions without getting into a Zelensky-style, flat-out argument with the U.S. president. They acknowledged that high levels of violence are a problem in South Africa but countered suggestions that there was a government-endorsed 'white genocide,' a claim that has become popular on the U.S. online right in particular. The Associated Press characterized any claim of 'systematic' killings of white farmers in South Africa as 'baseless.' South African crime statistics for 2024 indicate that less than 1 percent of nationwide murders were on farms. Trump has taken particular exception to the recent passage of a law that enables expropriation of land. But the law is subject to judicial review, and Ramaphosa countered Trump by emphasizing that the U.S. federal government also enjoys a right to take over private property under eminent domain. Still, the broader political reality is that Trump used the meeting with the South African president to amplify a narrative that he has pushed domestically. In general terms, his framing is that, whatever racial injustices existed in the past, it is white people who now face unfair discrimination, in part because of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump appears to believe that institutions that endorse DEI goals are guilty of reverse racism. The idea that 'white farmers … feel they're going to die in South Africa' — another claim made by the president on Wednesday — dovetails neatly with that argument. In the same way, the meeting with Zelensky in late February seemed designed to cast the Ukrainian president as an ingrate and to lay the groundwork for a withdrawal, or at least significant reduction, of U.S. aid as Kyiv tries to rebuff the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Whether such moves work, from a domestic political perspective, is a whole other question. As with so much else in relation to Trump, the episodes may simply break down along the usual deeply polarized lines. There will, to be sure, be plenty of members of Trump's base who will see the president's treatment of Ramaphosa as justified, and who will fully endorse his related attacks on the media for purportedly not wanting to cover the story of contemporary South Africa through the same lens as he himself sees it. But there will be others who recoil from the apparent attempt to humiliate a Black South African president by appealing to white American racial grievance. This mirrors the division that emerged following the Zelensky showdown, where the MAGA base applauded the excoriation of the Ukrainian president while liberals — and traditional conservatives who remain deeply skeptical of Russian President Vladimir Putin — cringed. The stakes may not be quite so high in the case of South Africa. But the nation's politics do at least have salience in the American news agenda because of the Trump administration's decision to recently admit a group of Afrikaners — white South Africans, primarily farmers and their families — as refugees. That decision drew accusations of racism from liberal commentators, who contrasted Trump's apparent generosity to the Afrikaners with his outright suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program by executive order on his first day back in office There are other contentious elements to the U.S.-South Africa relationship, too, including South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice, alleging genocide by Israel in its assault on Gaza. Trump, uncharacteristically, responded in a relatively mild fashion to a question from a reporter on that topic as Ramaphosa sat beside him on Wednesday. The treatment of Ramaphosa, like that of Zelensky, will surely give foreign leaders who have been in Trump's sights some pause for thought if they get their White House invites in due course. For the moment, however, the South African president emerged relatively unscathed even as Trump sought to use the encounter as aggressively as possible. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Is Ramaphosa in trouble? US Secretary of Marco Rubio calls out SA
Rubio claimed South Africa is undermining American security interests. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump would not join a meeting of G20 leaders in South Africa in November, stressing that Pretoria has been 'consistently unaligned' with US policy. Rubio's comments came a day before President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with Trump at the White House on Wednesday. Agenda Ramaphosa arrived in Washington on Monday afternoon with his delegation for a working visit to the US amid tensions between the two countries. The highly anticipated meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump has been confirmed for 5:30 pm (Central African Time) on Wednesday at the White House. While the Presidency did not share an agenda for the talks, Ramaphosa and Trump are expected to discuss several issues, including members of the US administration snubbing the G20 meetings, aid cuts, the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, South Africa's International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel and 'strengthening ties with Iran, which supports terrorism globally'. WATCH Marco Rubio speaking about South Africa US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump would not join a meeting of G20 leaders in South Africa in November, stressing that Pretoria has been 'consistently unaligned' with US policy. Vid: @SenTedCruz #DonaldTrump #CyrilRamaphosa #MarcoRubio @TheCitizen_News May 21, 2025 ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Fear not' Ramaphosa says, as Johann Rupert and Ernie Els expected to join Trump meeting American interests Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Rubio claimed South Africa is undermining American security interests. 'We chose not to participate in this year's G20 hosted by South Africa either at the foreign minister level or the president's level, and it had a lot to do with some of these issues, in addition to some of the issues they brought on their agenda, which we don't think reflect the priorities of this administration,' Rubio said. 'So the president of South Africa is here today because he says he endeavours to reset relations between our countries and President Trump. If someone says that it is always going to be open to resetting relations, but it will have to touch on some of the issues just pointed out now. 'Obviously, the position they've adopted towards Israel is not just off balance, but completely geared towards one side, and it makes one wonder about these allegations that are out there now of foreign influence, including with Iran. They are clearly on the global stage, and multiple multinational organisations have consistently been a vote against America's interests time and again,' Rubio said. 'Zelensky-style ambush' There is speculation about how the meeting will go, with fears Ramaphosa is walking into a 'Zelensky-style ambush', referring to the viral clash that took place when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February. Ramaphosa told journalists in Washington that he was hoping for 'really good' discussions with Trump and his administration. 'I'm looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we're looking forward to a very good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations and [normalising] relations between our two countries.' Foreign policy Ramaphosa said he will also clarify South Africa's policy positions on a range of pressing geopolitical matters. 'We are going to have an opportunity to discuss geopolitical issues, not only Israel, but also Ukraine. So all these matters will be on the table for proper discussion, and we are very rational when it comes to discussing global and geopolitical matters. 'We will put South Africa's interests first, and our own foreign policy positions will be well clarified. So fear not,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa vs Trump: Here's what you need to know
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Johann Rupert, SA golfers to join Ramaphosa-Trump meeting
The stage is set for the anticipated heated and robust meeting between Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa exits the plane in Washington. He is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Renowned businessman Johann Rupert and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are expected to join President Cyril Ramaphosa's South African delegation when he meets his US counterpart, Donald Trump. The stage is set for the anticipated heated and robust meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump, expected to take place at the White House on Wednesday. 'Good discussions' There is speculation about how the meeting will go, with fears Ramaphosa is walking into a 'Zelensky-style ambush', referring to the viral clash that took place when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February which was broadcast live on television. Ramaphosa told journalists in Washington that he was hoping for 'really good' discussions with Trump and his administration. 'I'm looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we're looking forward to a very good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations and [normalising] relations between our two countries.' WATCH President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking to journalists We will also use the working visit to clarify South Africa's policy positions on a range of pressing geopolitical matters. May 20, 2025 ALSO READ: Ramaphosa vs Trump: Here's what you need to know SA foreign policy Ramaphosa said he will also clarify South Africa's policy positions on a range of pressing geopolitical matters. 'We are going to have an opportunity to discuss geopolitical issues, not only Israel, but also Ukraine. So all these matters will be on the table for proper discussion, and we are very rational when it comes to discussing global and geopolitical matters. 'We will put South Africa's interests first, and our own foreign policy positions will be well clarified. So fear not,' Ramaphosa said. Possible humiliation? Ramaphosa was not fazed that he may face 'humiliation' similar to the shouting match involving Trump, his deputy JD Vance and Zelensky. 'Well, South Africans are never humiliated, are they? South Africans always go into everything holding their heads high.' Rupert, Els and Goosen While Rupert, South Africa's richest man, Els and Goosen will be part of Ramaphosa's delegation, it is understood the South African bord billionaire and owner Starlink, SpaceX and Tesla will not be at the highly anticipated meeting. According to a News24 report, it was Rupert who facilitated the meeting amid escalating tensions between the US and South Africa that was ramped when 49 Afrikaners were given refugee status by Trump. 'Ernie Els was actually the person who, over the past month, talked Trump into agreeing to the meeting,' said Rupert. Both Els and Rupert are currently in Washington and have been closely involved in the process of getting Ramaphosa and Trump around a table. ALSO READ: WATCH: 'SA is out of control,' Trump says ahead of meeting with Ramaphosa
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa vs Trump
Here's your daily news update for Wednesday, 21 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes as the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump looms, the Presidency said it will be difficult for the US administration to 'sustain' its claims of a genocide against Afrikaners or white farmers in South Africa. Meanwhile, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says its work at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is not yet done. Furthermore, police are investigating an incident at Soshanguve South Secondary School in Tshwane, where community members allegedly entered the school premises and assaulted pupils with sjamboks under the guise of enforcing discipline. Ramaphosa vs Trump: Here's what you need to know As the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump looms, the Presidency said it will be difficult for the US administration to 'sustain' its claims of a genocide against Afrikaners or white farmers in South Africa. The stage is set for the anticipated heated and robust meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump, expected to take place at the White House on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Pictures: AFP There is speculation about how the meeting will go, with fears Ramaphosa is walking into a 'Zelensky-style ambush', referring to the viral clash that took place when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February which was broadcast live on television. CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa vs Trump: Here's what you need to know Is someone sabotaging Absa? Senior managers face disciplinary action for leaking information If the walls at Absa could speak, there would be a better understanding of what is happening at the bank's top management. Since the walls cannot speak, an independent report had to do the talking. It revealed that some senior managers are involved in leaking Absa's information, prompting the bank to take disciplinary action against the individuals. Picture: iStock In recent years, Absa has been known for its leadership instability, marked by frequent changes in chief executive officers (CEOs) since 2019. This year alone, the bank has announced it will be getting a new CEO and a new chairman of the board. CONTINUE READING: Is someone sabotaging Absa? Senior managers face disciplinary action for leaking information SIU is not done with NLC yet, as more corruption allegations emerge The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says its work at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is not yet done. SIU head Andy Mothibi on Tuesday briefed the standing committee on public accounts on the investigation into the NLC. Picture: Raymond Joseph/GroundUp In November 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the SIU to investigate the NLC and recover any losses. CONTINUE READING: SIU is not done with NLC yet, as more corruption allegations emerge Police recover 10 AK-47s at Meyerton taxi rank after shooting Police are investigating a case of attempted murder following a shooting incident at a taxi rank, south of Johannesburg. The incident happened at the Meyerton taxi rank on Tuesday morning. The scene at the Meyerton taxi rank. Picture: Caxton/Vaal Weekblad Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said police investigations are continuing. CONTINUE READING: Police recover 10 AK-47s at Meyerton taxi rank after shooting Soshanguve community members accused of assaulting pupils with sjamboks [VIDEO] Police are investigating an incident at Soshanguve South Secondary School in Tshwane, where community members allegedly entered the school premises and assaulted pupils with sjamboks under the guise of enforcing discipline. A video made rounds on social media platforms on Tuesday showing an incident where two pupils are seen being hit by two people with sjamboks as they entered the school premises. Police investigate beating of pupils at Soshanguve school for lateness. Picture: Gallo Images / Daily Dispatch / Mark Andrews Chiloane confirmed that the department was aware of the incident. The MEC said the matter is being handled with the urgency it demands. CONTINUE READING: Soshanguve community members accused of assaulting pupils with sjamboks [VIDEO] Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Mayfair fire kills 4 children | Ramaphosa-Trump showdown delegation | Another Post Office cash injection
