Trump’s ambush: Why South Africa became an occasion for a White House scandal
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump silenced the lighting in the oval office and made South African President Siril Ramafosa a target of his latest geopolitical ambush against a foreign leader in front of television cameras.
Public humiliation
This was another demonstration that Trump was ready to use the Oval Cabinet – a place for a solemn welcome of high -ranking foreign guests to abuse visitors from weaker countries or to bake them on slow fire on the issues on which it was fixed.
The unprecedented use of Trump in the presidential setting for such demonstrations can make foreign leaders think before accepting his invitations and risk public humiliation, which could make it difficult to strengthen relationships with friends and partners.
Patrick Gaspar, a former US ambassador to South Africa to President Barack Obama, said Trump had turned a meeting with Ramafosa into a « shameful spectacle » and « smeared him with some fake snuff and rhetoric. »
« Trump’s engagement is never good for anyone, » Gaspar wrote, now a senior associate at the Brain Trust « American Progress Center » in Washington, in a publication at X.
The meeting in the Oval Cabinet was presented as a chance to restart the strained relations between the US and South Africa, especially after the imposition of a duties by Trump, and for the dissemination of escalating tension due to its unfounded accusations of « genocide against white » and the proposal to resettle white Africani minority.
After the heartfelt of the meeting, Trump ordered the lights to be muted and showed a video and pre -printed articles presented as evidence that white South Africans were chased.
Trump’s Political Theater
Ramafosa, apparently prepared to respond to Trump’s accusations, though he expected a political theater, was attentive and cool as he tried to disprove his host, but refrained from directly challenging or criticizing an US president, who has a reputation of an easily explosive man.
| « I’m sorry I don’t have an airplane to give you, » Ramafosa jokes with a smile, referring to the luxury plane that Qatar offered to Trump to replace his current Air Force One. |
His spokesman Vincent Magveanya told South African television operator Newzroom Afrika that « it could be seen that President Ramafosa was provoked. »
« It could be seen that they were joking with him and he didn’t get to the trap, » Magveanya said.
The White House did not immediately answer whether the meeting was set to put Ramafos on the hot chair and whether it could discourage other foreign leaders from such visits.
Likes and differences with the Zelenski scandal
This mood is in a sharp contrast to Trump’s meeting just months ago with Zelenski, who, like Ramafosa, was there to try to heal the break in relations and in the case of Ukraine to maintain US military assistance for Kiev against Russia.
But the meeting quickly went out of control, with Trump accusing Zelenski of disrespecting and betting on World War I World War, and his Vice President Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not showing enough appreciation for US support.
« You must be more thankful »: How tension between Trump and Zelenski escalate (video)
The controversial nature of the meeting shook NATO, supporting Ukraine’s struggle against Russia.
Although the pledge of Trump’s meeting with Ramafosa is smaller, South Africa is a major political and economic player in Africa, who considers China to be its largest trading partner, with the United States in second.
What is behind Trump’s attack
South Africa, who had been experiencing discrimination against blacks during colonialism and apartheid, before becoming a multi -party democracy in 1994, in the reign of Nelson Mandela, rejected Trump’s allegations.
Trump’s confrontation seems to be aimed at parts of his political electoral base, especially to the far -right and white nationalist segments that have long been promoted to the « White Genocide » in South Africa.
The United States expelled the South African ambassador after just two months of post
Trump has brought popular with the right extremist circles in the United States with unverified allegations of violence against white farmers and presented land reform as a racial pursuit,
After returning to the post in January, Trump canceled aid to the Republic of South Africa, expelled her ambassador and gave shelter to the United States to some white African, based on allegations of racial discrimination. At the same time, it largely blocks the reception of refugees from the rest of the world.
A new Land Reform Act in South Africa aimed at repairing apartheid’s injustice allows expropriation without compensation when it is in public interest – for example, if land is unused. However, such expropriation has never been carried out, and the law provides for any order to be challenged in court.
« If anyone doubts that the Zelenski incident was entirely directed by the White House, I think it’s time to open his eyes, » Tim Marshall commentator told London Radio Times.
