Trump’s uncomfortable and harsh polemic: “I don’t want to involve Elon. That’s all I have to do, involve him in something else”

On Wednesday, May 21, President Trump welcomed his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the White House to open up dialogue between the two countries. In February, the White House paused aid to the country, citing far-right theories that white farmers were being killed in mass, a theory promoted by Trump ally and South African national, Elon Musk.

However, what began as a formal meeting soon turned into a confrontation between the two leaders.

During the press conference in the Oval Office, President Trump asked that the lights be dimmed so that he could play a video for President Ramaphosa and his delegation. The video, the source of which is unknown, supported unsubstantiated claims about the alleged genocide of Afrikaners (white South Africans) in the country.

Trump peddles Elon’s theory on white genocide

A few minutes into the conversation, Trump asked for the lights to be turned off so he could play a video. As the video played, he pointed to the television to show supposed “burial sites.” “These crosses mark the murdered white farmers,” he added.

President Ramaphosa, initially taken aback, was visibly upset by his American counterpart’s surprising remarks. He has previously denied such accusations.

In response to the video, he requested that his Minister of Agriculture, John Henry Steenhuisen, an Afrikaner, address the issues presented. Steenhuisen explained to President Trump, speaking both as a government representative and a farmer, that many white farmers “really do want to stay in South Africa” and that the ongoing violence in the country affects farmers of all races.

Elon has been a promoter of the theory that violence is escalating against white farmers in South Africa. President Trump told the delegation that he didn’t think it was fair to involve the billionaire CEO, but that the issue was close to his heart because of his friends, including Musk, who are from South Africa, and “can’t go back.”

“That’s all I have to do, get him into another thing,” said President Trump, alluding to the reputation hit associating with the GOP leader has had on his businesses and personal brand.

“But Elon happens to be from South Africa. This is what Elon wanted. He actually came here on a different subject — sending rockets to Mars — OK? He likes that better. He likes that subject better. But Elon’s from South Africa, and I don’t want to talk to him about that. I don’t think it’s fair to him." Musk did not make any comments during the Oval Office meeting, but he was present.

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