Trump repeats debunked ‘white genocide’ claims while singling out South Africa

Trump revives ‘white genocide’ claims and puts South Africa back in the spotlight

South Africa has once again found itself in the crosshairs of US President Donald Trump, after he repeated long-discredited claims of a so-called “white genocide” during remarks linked to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking after his wide-ranging and often controversial address to world leaders, Trump described what he claimed was the persecution of white farmers in South Africa as “terrible” and said it was something that “has got to be stopped”.

“It’s a terrible situation what they’re doing to people, a certain group of people,” Trump said. “You wouldn’t think it could happen today.”

eNCA’s @HeidiGiokos asks US President Donald Trump what would make him believe that there is no white genocide in South Africa. #WEF2026 pic.twitter.com/tpJ1tN9xWb

eNCA (@eNCA) January 21, 2026

A familiar claim, firmly repeated

When pressed on what evidence would convince him otherwise, Trump doubled down, insisting he had seen “numbers” and “records” that supported his belief despite years of fact-checking that have found no proof of an organised or race-based genocide in South Africa.

“We have seen the numbers,” he said. “It is taking place, and it’s got to be stopped.”

Trump’s persistence on the issue has frustrated South African officials and analysts, who say the narrative ignores the country’s broader and more complex crime problem, which affects people across racial and economic lines.

From Davos jokes to diplomatic tension

Trump’s comments on South Africa came amid a rambling speech that touched on everything from US funding of Nato, wind energy in China, and his renewed desire to acquire Greenland something he casually referred to as a “small ask”.

The US president also caused discomfort by mocking French President Emmanuel Macron, poking fun at the sunglasses Macron wore at Davos. Macron’s office later clarified that the glasses were worn due to a burst blood vessel.

Trump went on to make a sweeping remark that Europe would “be speaking German” if not for the US a comment that drew raised eyebrows in a room filled with European leaders.

Claims South Africa says have been debunked

This is far from the first time Trump has pushed the white genocide narrative. In May 2025, he reportedly handed President Cyril Ramaphosa a bundle of printed articles during a meeting, claiming they documented mass killings of white South Africans.

Some of the material later turned out to be misleading. Images presented as “burial sites” of white farmers were in fact taken from Reuters footage in the Democratic Republic of Congo, showing humanitarian workers handling body bags after clashes involving M23 rebels in Goma.

Despite the corrections, Trump has continued to single out South Africa since returning to the White House a year ago.

Refugee offer sparks backlash

In another controversial move, Trump offered refugee status to Afrikaners, with the first group of about 50 people flown to the US on a chartered flight in May.

South Africa strongly criticised the decision, arguing that prioritising Afrikaner refugees was based on claims that lacked credible evidence. By October, the government reiterated that allegations of a white genocide had been widely discredited.

A narrative that refuses to fade

Online reaction to Trump’s latest comments has been swift. South Africans across social media platforms expressed anger and fatigue at seeing the country repeatedly portrayed through what many describe as a distorted and politically convenient lens.

For analysts, Trump’s fixation on South Africa reflects more than just misinformation it highlights how global political narratives can overshadow local realities, turning a complex society into a talking point on the world stage.

As South Africa continues to battle real issues like violent crime, inequality and rural safety, officials have once again been forced into the familiar position of debunking claims that, despite repeated refutations, refuse to disappear.

{Source: The Citizen}

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