Amid mounting tensions, President Donald Trump has sharpened his stance against South Africa, going well beyond his widely publicized claims about white farmers. Earlier this week, he alleged that a “genocide” targeting white farmers was unfolding in South Africa, describing it as an ignored crisis and making his most incendiary accusation yet against the country, which he moved to penalize shortly after returning to office.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that South Africa’s leadership is enabling anti-white sentiment in the Black-majority nation, and that this has led to violence against white farmers. These allegations have been firmly denied by the South African government.
However, Trump’s grievances stretch further. He has also fiercely condemned South Africa’s foreign policy, specifically its controversial move to charge Israel with genocide at the United Nations‘ top court.
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Framing the case against Israel as part of a broader anti-American agenda, Trump included it in a February 7 executive order that sanctioned South Africa and halted all U.S. aid and assistance. The order stated that South Africa was taking “aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies” and accused the country of siding with Hamas through its legal action.
The Trump administration has also taken a hard line domestically, cracking down on pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests across the U.S.
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South Africa, a long-standing advocate for Palestinian rights and a critic of Israel, has maintained that its stance is not equivalent to support for Hamas. But the distinction has become murky—especially after Nelson Mandela’s grandson hosted Hamas leaders in South Africa in 2023.
Hamas is officially designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others.
Trump’s executive order also accused South Africa of deepening ties with Iran through commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements. Although South Africa has confirmed diplomatic relations with Iran, it has denied having any nuclear weapons agreements, saying it is merely permitting Iran to bid like other nations on a commercial nuclear energy project.
The Institute for Security Studies in South Africa called Trump’s response an “overreaction,” but warned that South Africa should consider the implications of its international alliances.
In a significant diplomatic rebuff, the U.S. has chosen not to engage with South Africa’s G20 presidency, the first for an African nation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg, criticizing the summit’s focus on “solidarity, equality and sustainability” as wasteful DEI and climate policy.
READ ALSO: South Africa president Ramaphosa dismisses claims of white persecution
Soon after, the Trump administration cut off all cooperation related to South Africa’s G20 events. A U.S. official, who reportedly spoke anonymously, according to AP, confirmed that the move reflected Trump’s rejection of South Africa’s G20 priorities, though it wouldn’t affect the U.S.’s own presidency of the group next year.
Meanwhile, the administration welcomed over 50 white South Africans into the U.S. as refugees, saying they belonged to the Afrikaner minority and faced racial persecution by their government.
South Africa has condemned attacks on white farmers but insists they stem from the country’s broader violent crime problem—not race-based targeting.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has refrained from directly confronting Trump but suggested the U.S. president is being misled by right-wing commentators and Afrikaner interest groups. His office said he plans to meet with Trump in Washington in an effort to “reset” the strained bilateral relationship.
