Ramaphosa’s US visit was meant to reset relations, but Trump hijacked it with debunked claims of “white genocide,” leaving South Africans frustrated and questioning the point.
- Trump claimed white South Africans are facing genocide, a falsehood widely circulated by far-right groups.
- Ramaphosa kept his cool but didn’t directly challenge the claims.
- South Africans, including white citizens, say the genocide narrative is misleading.
- The government defended the trip, saying engagement with the US was essential.
- Critics say Ramaphosa gave oxygen to dangerous misinformation.
This wasn’t the diplomatic reset Ramaphosa had hoped for. Instead, Trump steered the meeting into conspiracy territory. using old, discredited talking points about white persecution. Many South Africans, even those Trump claimed to defend, say crime affects everyone and shouldn’t be racialised. The bigger worry? This fuels global misinformation and distracts from South Africa’s real issues: inequality, corruption, and crime.
Ramaphosa may have stayed calm, but did he stay silent too long? With elections looming, every move abroad has consequences back home.
