President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Wednesday during a tense Oval Office meeting on the treatment of white farmers.
“We have many people that feel they’re being persecuted, and they’re coming to the United States,” Trump said. “They’re white farmers, and they’re fleeing South Africa, and it’s a very sad thing to see. But I hope we can have an explanation of that, because I know you don’t want that.”
The president then asked that the lights be turned down to show his South African counterpart footage that’s been circulating on social media of opposition politician Julius Malema talking about killing the white farmer and taking their land.
“Our government policy is completely, completely against what he was saying," Ramaphosa countered.
Trump also gave him a stack of news articles as receipts of white persecution in the nation.
President Trump always brings the receipts. 🧾🧾🧾 pic.twitter.com/lokUUwqglP
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 21, 2025
WATCH: President Trump shows numerous articles detailing the atrocities committed against white South Africans:
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) May 21, 2025
“These are articles over the last few days: death of people, death, death, death, horrible death, death.” pic.twitter.com/AbZcTbixMi
Reports from mainstream media outlets about the meeting shows the memo clearly went out on how to describe it. Let's take a look (emphasis mine):
Sky News: "Donald Trump ambushes South African president at White House meeting by playing video alleging 'genocide'"
Axios: "Trump ambushes South Africa's president with video footage in Oval Office"
Telegraph: "Trump ambushes South African president with footage of ‘white persecution’"
CNN: "Trump ambushes South African president in Oval Office with video"
Guardian: "Trump ambushes South African president with video and false claims of anti-white racism"
BBC: "Trump ambushes South African president in Oval Office with claims of 'white persecution'"
USNews: "Second Oval Office Ambush by Trump Could Make Foreign Leaders Think Twice"
Fake News Word of the Day: “Ambush!" pic.twitter.com/uAfLjgEh9n
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 22, 2025