This is the term frequently utilized by US media to characterize the explosive confrontation at the White House yesterday between President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The previous occurrence reminiscent of this was the disastrous meeting in February with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, while the Zelensky encounter appeared to have derailed due to an overly extended press conference and show elements, the Ramaphosa meeting was carefully orchestrated, inclusive of audio-visual presentations and printed materials.
Mr. Ramaphosa arrived well-prepared, bringing additional members to his usual delegation intended to appeal to Mr. Trump, likely aiming to soften the expected criticism he knew was incoming.
These additions included golfers Retief Goosen and Ernie Els, both known to President Trump, representing his favored sport and being white South Africans with ties to the farming community.
Read more: Trump confronts Ramaphosa with false genocide claims
John Steenhuisen, another white South African, serves as the minister for agriculture and is the leader of the Democratic Alliance, a party that has opposed the ANC for 30 years but joined Mr. Ramaphosa’s administration last year.
Alongside President Trump was his South African advisor, Elon Musk, while Mr. Ramaphosa brought Johann Rupert, South Africa’s second-richest individual, following Mr. Musk.
Mr. Rupert, who runs the Swiss-based luxury goods company Richemont, which includes brands like Cartier and Montblanc, is a billionaire, which aligns with Mr. Trump’s preference for affluent individuals.
John Steenhuisen speaks during the meeting at the White House yesterday.
President Trump’s team comprised Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, all seated to the president’s left.
Despite this preparation, President Ramaphosa likely did not foresee the lights dimming in the Oval Office for a lengthy video presentation. Yet that is precisely what happened.
The video featured the leaders of two opposition parties, Jacob Zuma, a former president, and Julius Malema, President and “Commander in Chief” of the Economic Freedom Fighters, a far-left communist party whose members often don red berets and military attire. In the video, he called for the expropriation of white-owned farmland and made incendiary remarks like “Kill the Boer.”
Recently, around 50 Afrikaners arrived in the US as refugees, one of the few groups currently receiving access. President Trump informed his counterpart that the US consistently welcomes individuals escaping oppression or genocide.
Many newcomers, including children, were observed holding small US flags.
On Monday, Julius Malema demanded the addresses of the Afrikaner refugees in the US, asserting that their farmland should be redistributed and not left uncultivated. However, he expressed skepticism about their qualifications as farmers.
“If they are real farmers, why hasn’t the media provided a list of farms left behind by farmers who went to America? They didn’t resemble farmers to me. They looked like car guards; that’s why they didn’t have the land,” he commented.
President Ramaphosa responded to President Trump’s assertions gently and courteously, though he was frequently interrupted by a visibly impatient US president.
Mr. Ramaphosa countered the allegations by explaining that South Africa does not engage in genocide or forcibly take land from white farmers or any farmers for that matter.
He then called upon his white agriculture minister, Mr. Steenhuisen, to address the matter.
South African national Elon Musk was also present.
Mr. Steenhuisen eloquently indicated to President Trump that South Africa faces a severe crime issue.
“I don’t think anyone wants to sugarcoat it; it demands substantial effort to manage,” he stated.
“Addressing this problem will require additional policing resources and a revised strategy. However, the majority of South Africa’s commercial and smallholder farmers genuinely wish to remain in the country and succeed,” he added.
“This issue affects all farmers in South Africa, particularly concerning stock theft, which disproportionately impacts small black farmers,” Mr. Steenhuisen mentioned.
Mr. Musk, standing behind the couch to President Trump’s left, nodded in agreement during Mr. Steenhuisen’s remarks.
Mr. Goosen candidly recounted his family’s hardships in rural South Africa.
“My father was a property developer and a part-time farmer. Unfortunately, some of his fellow farmers were killed. The farm is still operational,” he shared.
“My brothers manage it, but enduring challenges like farm arson persist. It’s difficult to sustain a living as a farmer,” he stressed.
He informed President Trump that the country requires well-managed farms to produce essential food and water supplies.
The US president inquired about the water availability.
Golfer Retief Goosen responded that it’s satisfactory but sourced from a borehole, “though it’s challenging to extract the water as equipment is frequently stolen,” he explained.
South African golfers Retief Goosen (C) and Ernie Els (R) spoke at the Oval Office.
“Does your brother feel secure on the farm?” President Trump posed.
“They are behind electric fences, yet there is perpetual anxiety when leaving that something could occur. It’s challenging. Both brothers were assaulted in their homes, and our mother faced an attack at age 80. It’s tough,” Mr. Goosen recounted.
This was intended to be the pro-government message from a member of Mr. Ramaphosa’s delegation.
The objective was to clarify that there is no state-sponsored genocide of white farmers in South Africa; rather, there exists a profound crime issue affecting everyone.
On an average day, South Africa experiences nearly as many murders as Ireland recorded in the entirety of last year (77).
Last year, South Africa reported 26,232 homicides—approximately 72 killings daily.
This statistic is derived from a population of 63 million.
In contrast, England and Wales, with a similar population of 61 million, reported 583 murders, or about 1.6 killings per day.
South Africa’s murder rate surpassed that of the US, which documented 24,849 homicides last year, despite the US housing a population nearly five-and-a-half times larger.
Police data in South Africa does not categorize crime victims by race, yet very few farmers were reported killed last year. According to police statistics released by Reuters, only eight fatalities involved farmers. Most farmers, as President Trump indicated, are white.
There were 44 reported deaths associated with assaults on farming communities, eight of which were farmers.
Most farm workers in South Africa are black, suggesting that the majority of victims of agrarian violence are likely black, not white.
The land law instituted last year permits the expropriation of land without compensation for specific public objectives under certain conditions—a measure President Trump has criticized vehemently.
Watch: Video played in Oval Office during meeting between Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa equated it to “eminent domain,” a legal provision in US law that allows government expropriation of land for special purposes without compensation. This is typically employed to resolve gridlocks over infrastructure projects.
The New York Times highlighted a particular instance wherein President Trump himself invoked eminent domain to expropriate farmland in south Texas during his first term to facilitate part of the border wall with Mexico.
Mr. Trump developed an interest in allegations regarding a South African genocide of white individuals during his first term after viewing a report by Tucker Carlson on Fox News.
He instructed then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to investigate, but little was heard about the matter until his return to power in January.
Within weeks, he expelled the South African ambassador, halted US assistance to the nation, and threatened to boycott G20 events set in South Africa.
The current Secretary of State has already skipped a G20 foreign ministers meeting.
President Ramaphosa aimed to reset relations with the US yesterday, intending to persuade President Trump to reconsider his attendance at the upcoming G20 summit.
The US will assume the next presidency of the organization, and Mr. Ramaphosa desires to “hand it over in good shape,” as he articulated.
He also presented President Trump with a hefty volume about South African golf courses, weighing in at 14kg.
He humorously remarked: “I wish I could provide you with a plane.”
Following yesterday’s ambush in the Oval Office, it remains uncertain what the state of the sought-after reset will be, whether the G20 presidency will be significantly impaired, and whether President Trump will continue to allow Afrikaners participation in refugee programs.
