Cape Town – South Africa’s delegation to the White House has returned optimistic about resetting diplomatic ties with the United States, following a tense but ultimately constructive meeting with US President Donald Trump.
According to The Citizen, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the delegation emerged “in better shape than we went in”, despite confrontational moments that included Trump presenting videos of controversial anti-white chants and articles alleging a white “genocide” in South Africa.
Key points include:
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Trump’s Reaction: US President Donald Trump was noncommittal on attending the G20 summit in South Africa and was notably focused on farm murders and racial tensions in SA. He presented videos of Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma singing controversial songs and articles alleging a white “genocide” in SA.
BREAKING: President Trump brings a TV into the Oval Office in front of the South African President and shows him a video of his own government calling for the genocide of white farmers.
Savage.
“Turn the lights down. Turn the lights down and just put this on.”
Cyril Ramaphosa… pic.twitter.com/wDRk76cC1x
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 21, 2025
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South African Response: Steenhuisen used the opportunity to distance the government from figures like Malema and Zuma, emphasising that the current leadership is working to keep them out of power.
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Private Interactions: Behind closed doors, the meeting was more relaxed, with South African golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen engaging Trump in golf talk, which helped ease tensions, the DA leader said.
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Crime and Farm Murders: Steenhuisen acknowledged the meeting as a “wake-up call” about South Africa’s crime problem, particularly farm attacks, which are now firmly on the US radar.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
