“Dim the Lights”: Ramaphosa Jokes About Trump’s Oval Office Ambush Over Malema Video

President Cyril Ramaphosa broke into laughter this week as he publicly recalled a tense — and theatrical — moment during his recent visit to the White House, where Donald Trump surprised him with a video of EFF leader Julius Malema.

The incident, which played out in front of a line of reporters inside the Oval Office, had all the drama of a spy thriller. With little warning, Trump told an aide to “dim the lights” and played footage of Malema, hoping to reinforce his longstanding claims about so-called white genocide against South African farmers — a theory that has been widely discredited.

Ramaphosa Breaks the Tension with a Smile

Speaking days later at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium at Century City in Cape Town, Ramaphosa finally addressed the strange encounter — this time, with wit and levity.

“So, when I came in, I saw the room going a bit dark. They darkened the room, and for a moment, I wondered, what is this? It’s happening to me again,” he chuckled, referencing the now-notorious moment.

“Suddenly, I hear him say ‘dim the lights,’ and I must say a number of people later told me, ‘This was an ambush,’” Ramaphosa said, laughing along with the crowd.

‘Dim the lights’, President Cyril Ramaphosa pokes fun about his meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington last week. #CyrilRamaphosa #DonaldTrump Vid: Newzroom Afrika @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/kASpO91Lyu

— ?????? ????? ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) May 27, 2025

‘What’s Happening?’ – A Moment of Confusion

Ramaphosa said he was bemused and caught off guard by the video screening but kept his composure. He joked about seeing journalist Clement Manyatela and thinking he was somehow behind it all, recalling the event with dry humour.

“It was such a bizarre moment that even I had to ask myself — what’s happening?” Ramaphosa said.

Meeting Still a Success, Says Ramaphosa

Despite the dramatic twist, Ramaphosa maintained that the Oval Office meeting was productive and cordial.

“We had a good, robust discussion,” he said. “There was time for our delegation to share views, raise questions, and engage with Trump and his team. It turned out to be a meaningful exchange.”

After the meeting, both delegations shared a working lunch, where talks continued in a less formal, more collaborative setting.

Why This Matters

While political theatrics often overshadow substance, Ramaphosa’s ability to later laugh at what could have been a diplomatic debacle highlights both his calm leadership style and the unpredictable nature of international diplomacy, especially when it involves former President Trump.

{Source: The Citizen}

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