Washington, D.C. – On May 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, where he expressed his desire for peace across the African continent. The high-stakes meeting, aimed at resetting strained U.S.-South Africa relations, covered bilateral trade, regional issues, and global concerns, including ongoing conflicts.
During the discussions, Trump emphasized his vision for stability in Africa, stating, “I want to see peace across Africa.” The remark came amid talks addressing tensions sparked by Trump’s recent policies, including his decision to grant refugee status to 59 white South African Afrikaners, whom he claimed faced persecution. Ramaphosa has strongly denied allegations of racial discrimination or “genocide” against white farmers, calling such claims unfounded and politically motivated.
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The meeting also touched on South Africa’s controversial land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, both of which have drawn criticism from the Trump administration. Ramaphosa, accompanied by a delegation including South African business tycoon Johann Rupert and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, sought to ease tensions by offering trade deals and investment opportunities, including potential exemptions for Elon Musk’s Starlink from South Africa’s Black ownership requirements.
Ramaphosa underscored the importance of trade, noting that the U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner. “The trade relations are what’s most important—that’s what has brought us here,” he told reporters. The South African leader, a seasoned negotiator from the anti-apartheid era, aimed to secure a favorable trade agreement while defending his country’s sovereignty.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Trump cut aid to South Africa in February 2025 and expelled its ambassador, citing disagreements over South Africa’s foreign policy and domestic laws. Some South African analysts expressed concern that Ramaphosa risked a confrontational encounter similar to Trump’s heated February meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Despite the challenges, Ramaphosa remained optimistic, stating, “We want to strengthen and consolidate good relations between our two countries.” The presence of prominent South African figures like Rupert and Els, who have personal ties to Trump, was intended to create a friendly atmosphere for the talks.
The meeting’s outcome remains critical, as South Africa faces the potential loss of preferential trade access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025. Both leaders expressed a mutual interest in addressing global issues, including peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, though no specific agreements were announced.
As Ramaphosa navigates this delicate diplomatic moment, the world watches to see if the two leaders can bridge their differences and foster a path toward cooperation and stability, both bilaterally and across Africa.