South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed shock at Donald Trump's "racist" views during their Oval Office meeting last May. Speaking to the New York Times, Ramaphosa described Trump as "truly uninformed" about South Africa's history and current reality, particularly regarding apartheid's lasting impact. The U.S. president repeatedly pushed far-right conspiracy theories about alleged "white genocide" in South Africa.

During their meeting, Trump ambushed Ramaphosa with newspaper clippings and a video supposedly showing dead white South African farmers. Reuters later determined the footage actually came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, roughly the distance from Washington D.C. to Colombia. Trump also offered asylum to white South Africans, comparing their alleged persecution to apartheid-era discrimination against Black citizens.

Ramaphosa, a former confidant of Nelson Mandela, expressed amazement at the attention Trump gives to South Africa, calling it a "small country" that poses no threat to the United States. The White House defended Trump's stance, claiming he's highlighting "harrowing stories of Afrikaners" experiencing violent attacks and discrimination. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the two nations over racial politics and historical narratives.