Nearly 70,000 South African Whites Seek Trump’s Refugee Status

Nearly 70,000 white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, have expressed interest in relocating to the U.S. under President Donald Trump's executive order, which claims they are victims of racial discrimination by their government. The U.S. Embassy in South Africa received this list from the South African Chamber of Commerce in the U.S., but it does not represent formal applications. Trump's order, issued on February 7, cuts U.S. funding to South Africa and directs the prioritization of humanitarian relief for Afrikaners. The South African government has disputed Trump's claims, stating that allegations of targeted violence and land expropriation are driven by misinformation. The South African Chamber of Commerce revealed that most applicants are aged between 25 and 45, although many may not fully understand the implications of refugee status. Trump's initiative contradicts his broader policy of restricting U.S. refugee resettlement programs.