Donald Trump frames South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with baseless accusations of persecution of white farmers

A trap. An unprecedented trap, with no escape route, premeditated and obvious, closed in on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, May 21. The location was now one of the most exposed in the world for visitors: the Oval Office at the White House.

Donald Trump had planned to challenge his guest in front of reporters about one of his long-standing obsessions: the alleged persecution of Afrikaners, South African white farmers. A long-standing refrain in the MAGA ("Make America Great Again") world, dating back to his first term.

In February, US aid to the country was suspended by presidential decree. In March, the South African ambassador was expelled from the United States. Cyril Ramaphosa was therefore expecting a "Zelensky moment," a fate similar to that suffered by the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office. In reality, his treatment was even more inappropriate.

"We have documentaries, we have news articles," Donald Trump said after a polite and calm initial exchange. The president ordered the lights to be turned off, while a screen was brought up for an accusatory projection. It was a criminal court atmosphere, where the verdict would be predetermined. A four-minute video was shown, devoid of details or context, featuring grave crosses and excerpts from xenophobic speeches given by Julius Malema , a loud but marginal South African politician.

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