South African President Ramaphosa to Meet Trump Amid Refugee Intake, Genocide Allegations

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on May 21 to discuss bilateral and global issues and to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries. The meeting follows the Trump administration's decision to welcome 59 white South Africans as refugees, part of a broader relocation plan for Afrikaner farmers whom Trump alleges are being persecuted in South Africa due to their race—a claim strongly denied by the South African government. Trump has criticized South Africa's Black-led government, cutting U.S. aid over what he describes as anti-white policies and accusing the government of fueling violence against white farmers, allegations South Africa rejects, attributing the violence instead to broader crime issues without racial motivation. Ramaphosa has expressed that the U.S. government has misunderstood the situation and maintains there is no evidence of racial persecution against whites in the country. This meeting will be Trump's first with an African leader since his return to office and occurs amidst strained relations marked by divergent views on land reform and foreign policy. South Africa remains a significant trade partner to the U.S., underscoring the importance of the planned diplomatic engagement.