‎Top 7 reasons U.S.–South Africa tensions are boiling over as Trump hosts Ramaphosa

‎Diplomatic tensions between the United States and South Africa have reached a critical point. The recent Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa was intended to mend ties—but instead laid bare deep disagreements on race, land reform, and geopolitics.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa.

‎Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Chris McGrath/Getty Images

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‎Below are the 7 main reasons behind the growing rift between the two nations:

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‎1. Trump’s “White Genocide” Allegations

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‎President Trump continues to push the controversial and widely debunked claim that white South African farmers are victims of a state-sponsored genocide. During the Oval Office meeting, he played video footage of violent rhetoric allegedly directed at white landowners. President Ramaphosa firmly denied the narrative, insisting the claims misrepresent the realities of crime and inequality in the country.

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‎2. Land Expropriation Without Compensation

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‎The 2024 Expropriation Act, passed in January 2025, allows the South African government to seize land without compensating owners. Trump’s administration has labeled this law as racially discriminatory against Afrikaners. In February, Trump signed an Executive Order cutting all U.S. foreign aid to South Africa in protest, citing “egregious actions” by the Ramaphosa government.

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‎3. Elon Musk’s Involvement and Online Amplification

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‎Elon Musk, now head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has amplified criticisms of South Africa. Musk, who was born in Pretoria, publicly questioned Ramaphosa’s policies on X, referring to them as “openly racist.” His AI bot, Grok, also made headlines for promoting “white genocide” narratives—a glitch blamed on a rogue employee.

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‎4. U.S. Resettlement of Afrikaner Refugees

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‎In May, the U.S. welcomed over 50 Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers—as official refugees. This was the first refugee group admitted under Trump’s second term. Trump cited violent persecution and land seizures as justification. South African officials labeled the resettlement “ironic,” given the economic dominance of Afrikaners within South Africa.

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‎5. Expulsion of South African Ambassador

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‎In March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, accusing him of being “anti-American” and “race-baiting.” Rasool had previously criticized Trump’s alignment with white nationalist narratives. His return to South Africa was met with widespread support and was portrayed as an unjust diplomatic insult by the U.S.

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‎6. South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel at the ICJ

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‎South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza has been another flashpoint. The Trump administration took strong offense, stating that Pretoria’s alignment with Iran and its challenge to U.S. allies was unacceptable. The case has added fuel to U.S. arguments that South Africa no longer acts in good faith as a global partner.

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‎7. G20 Fallout and Climate Policy Conflicts

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‎South Africa hosted a G20 summit in February, which the United States boycotted. Secretary Rubio condemned the summit’s agenda—focused on climate change and equity—as “anti-American.” He later stated, “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not coddle anti-Western propaganda.”

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‎The Trump-Ramaphosa summit revealed just how fractured U.S.–South Africa relations have become. With accusations of genocide, political expulsions, and geopolitical disagreements in play, the bilateral relationship now stands at a historic crossroads. Whether diplomacy can prevail or if this rift deepens remains to be seen.