Cape Town – US President Donald Trump has once again drawn criticism after repeating the widely debunked claim that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa, this time on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking to media, Trump insisted that white farmers in South Africa were being systematically targeted, describing the situation as “terrible” and claiming it was supported by “numbers” and “records” he had seen.
When pressed on what would change his view, Trump maintained that the alleged genocide “is taking place, and it’s got to be stopped”.
“We have seen the numbers, we’ve seen the records. It is taking place, and it’s got to be stopped.”
eNCA’s @HeidiGiokos asks US President Donald Trump what would make him believe that there is no white genocide in South Africa. #WEF2026 pic.twitter.com/tpJ1tN9xWb
— eNCA (@eNCA) January 21, 2026
The claim has repeatedly been rejected by South African authorities and independent fact-checkers, who have found no evidence of a genocide against white South Africans.
While farm attacks remain a serious crime concern, official crime statistics show that victims come from all racial groups and do not support assertions of racially targeted extermination.
Trump has made similar allegations in the past.
In May 2025, he presented President Cyril Ramaphosa with printed articles and images he said proved a white genocide, but several of the materials were later shown to be misleading.
TRUMP IS A GANGSTER
Watch as Trump makes the South African President watch videos of his country man Julius Malema calling for the genocide of white farmers in the Oval Office!
President Cyril Ramaphosa was clearly disturbed 😳
Not to mention the k!ller stare from Elon Musk! pic.twitter.com/2SzJ9WYNLM— Shirleyval (@DataRefines) May 21, 2025
One image he cited as evidence of mass burials of white farmers was in fact a screengrab from Reuters footage showing humanitarian workers handling bodies in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following clashes with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly singled out South Africa, accusing the post-apartheid government of allowing the killing of white Afrikaners.
He previously confronted Ramaphosa with similar claims during an Oval Office meeting and later offered refugee status to Afrikaners, with the first group of around 50 people relocated to the United States.
The South African government has strongly criticised these claims, saying allegations of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack credible evidence, warning that such narratives distort the country’s complex crime challenges and fuel misinformation.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
