A White House meeting intended to ease strained relations between the United States and South Africa spiraled into controversy after President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with discredited claims of a “white genocide.” The confrontation came just a week after the U.S. granted asylum to nearly 60 white South Africans, prompting tensions between the two nations.

President Ramaphosa visited Washington hoping to reset diplomatic ties and focus on trade, as South African exports face looming U.S. tariffs. In an effort to win goodwill, Ramaphosa brought golf legend Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, and billionaire Johann Rupert as part of his delegation, all white South Africans, underscoring the diversity and unity of his country. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn when Trump played a video featuring opposition leader Julius Malema chanting “Shoot the Boer,” followed by images of white crosses, wrongly presented as mass graves of murdered white farmers. Trump demanded an explanation from Ramaphosa, asserting that white farmers were being killed and their land confiscated.

Ramaphosa pushed back calmly, emphasizing that the video reflected opposition rhetoric and not government policy. “Our constitution allows multiparty democracy,” he said. “What you saw is not state policy.” While Trump continued to press claims of land seizures and targeted killings, Ramaphosa clarified that the controversial land reform law allows for expropriation without compensation only in limited, justified cases and no land had yet been seized under it. He added that South African crime affects all communities, with black South Africans making up the vast majority of victims.

South Africa’s Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, also part of the delegation, stressed that most farmers, regardless of race, want to stay in South Africa. In a measured tone, Ramaphosa reiterated his nation’s commitment to reconciliation, invoking Nelson Mandela’s legacy. Trump’s allegations long circulated among far-right groups have been widely debunked. A South African court recently dismissed “white genocide” claims as fictional. Despite the tense exchange, Ramaphosa avoided confrontation, using humor and diplomacy to redirect the conversation.

As the meeting concluded, South Africa’s leadership reaffirmed its stance: land reform will proceed according to democratic principles, not under foreign pressure. Yet, the diplomatic rift seems far from healed, with aid cuts and refugee policies continuing to strain bilateral relations.