Ramaphosa Heads to White House to Counter Trump’s Afrikaner Refugee Claims and Woo Elon Musk

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing for a high-stakes visit to the White House this week, where he will directly challenge U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims about Afrikaner refugees, while also pitching South Africa as a prime destination for Tesla investments and U.S.-Africa trade.

This comes after President Trump welcomed 59 white South African farmers into the United States as refugees earlier this month, reviving a debunked narrative that white farmers in South Africa are being systematically killed in a so-called genocide.

Ramaphosa is expected to strongly dispute these claims and request that the U.S. support an independent investigation into the matter. According to South African police data, between April 2020 and March 2024, a total of 225 people were killed on farms — but only 53 of them were farmers, most of whom are white. Over 100 victims were Black farm workers.

“It’s laughable that you can use the genocide word on South Africa, while on the other hand you’re looking the other way where the actual genocide is being committed,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, referencing the war in Gaza.

Walking a Diplomatic Tightrope

Ramaphosa’s challenge is twofold: defending South Africa’s national integrity without jeopardizing critical trade ties. The U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, with exports to the U.S. totaling $13.9 billion in 2023.

The South African president will try to appeal to Trump’s business instincts. Officials say a new trade deal may be on the table, one that focuses on energy, minerals, and technology.

The Elon Musk Factor

Also high on the agenda is mending relations with Elon Musk. Born in South Africa, Musk has become one of the country’s most vocal critics, using his platform on X to amplify Trump’s genocide accusations.

Ramaphosa hopes to reverse that narrative by proposing opportunities for Musk’s companies, including building a network of Tesla electric vehicle charging stations and launching SpaceX rockets from South African soil.

“South Africa offers the perfect environment for space launches and e-mobility infrastructure,” said a South African trade official.

In exchange, South Africa may offer favorable import tariffs for Tesla vehicles, a move that could attract more investment from the Musk empire.

Gaza, Israel, and Global Diplomacy

While defending his country against Trump’s Afrikaner narrative, Ramaphosa is also expected to bring up South Africa’s genocide charges against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

He will attempt to highlight what many in his country see as a double standard — harsh criticism from the U.S. over unproven genocide claims at home, while alleged war crimes by a U.S. ally go largely unchallenged.

Still, Ramaphosa is also expected to find common ground with Trump by focusing on shared concerns — like ensuring humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.

Tensions Over Iran and Hamas

Ramaphosa may also face tough questions about South Africa’s diplomatic engagements with Iran and Hamas — two entities that Trump’s administration sees as hostile. These issues could prove to be major stumbling blocks in a conversation otherwise framed around trade and diplomacy.

A Defining Visit

This visit could redefine South Africa-U.S. relations during Trump’s second term. Ramaphosa aims to prove that South Africa is not just a political challenge to Trump’s worldview — but a vital economic partner worth investing in.

With billions in trade on the line and diplomatic pressure mounting, all eyes will be on Washington as President Ramaphosa makes his case.

{Source: The New York Times}

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