South African President Cyril Ramaphosa came to the White House on Wednesday prepared to talk golf and trade. Instead, President Donald Trump dimmed the lights, rolled a tape and held up news clips to back up his accusations that the South African government is discriminating against white farmers and allowing their genocide.
The more than hourlong meeting grew contentious after a reporter asked Trump what it would take for him to be convinced that there was no white genocide taking place in South Africa.
“It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like those who are here,” Ramaphosa said, in reference to a pair of South African golfers the president brought with him to the meeting. Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa and has accused the country of having racist laws for land ownership, was also present.