VIDEO: “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you," South Africa President to Trump

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House Wednesday in what was meant to be a diplomatic reset — but the meeting quickly became charged as US President Donald Trump revived discredited claims of violence targeting white South Africans.

Ramaphosa arrived at the White House greeted by Trump amid a flurry of photographers and reporters. Despite some small talk — including praise for South African golfers and discussions about the upcoming G20 summit, which South Africa is set to host — the meeting turned contentious as Trump began pushing claims of a “genocide” against white farmers.

Ramaphosa, seeking to foster better relations, thanked Trump for welcoming his delegation and said it was a “real joy” to be at the White House. “We are essentially here to reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa,” he said, highlighting the importance of trade and investment between the two nations.

“Almost 600 US companies are currently investing in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said. “Our links are really long, lasting and we would like to recalibrate those relations between our two countries.”

But the tone shifted dramatically when Trump raised his administration’s position on accepting refugees fleeing what he claimed was “genocide.”

“We have many people that feel they’re being persecuted, and they’re coming to the United States,” Trump said. “So we take from many locations, if we feel there’s persecution or genocide going on.”

He added he would seek an “explanation” from Ramaphosa, who responded by urging the US president to listen to South Africans themselves. “It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like those who are here,” Ramaphosa said.

In an unusual move, Trump then played a video to the South African delegation, claiming it showed “burial sites of thousands of white farmers.” Ramaphosa, appearing visibly uncomfortable, asked where the footage came from. “This, I’ve never seen,” he said. Trump replied, “It’s in South Africa.”

The video also included clips of speeches from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left South African party that has previously stirred controversy over its rhetoric. Ramaphosa clarified that the EFF’s statements did not reflect government policy.

“They’re a small minority party which is allowed to exist in terms of our constitution,” Ramaphosa said. “Our government policy is completely, completely against what [the speaker in the video] was saying.”

Ramaphosa denied any state-sponsored land seizures or targeted killings of white South Africans. “There is crime in our country, and crime affects everyone — Black and white,” he said.

Attempting to steer the conversation back to diplomacy, Ramaphosa invoked Nelson Mandela’s legacy: “We were taught by Nelson Mandela that whenever there are problems, people need to sit down around the table and talk.”

Despite his efforts to defuse the situation, the meeting veered further off-script as Trump rifled through printed articles he claimed proved his concerns.

“They kill the white farmers, and when they kill the white farmers, nothing happens to them,” Trump said.

Rights organizations have repeatedly found no evidence of a coordinated campaign or genocide against white South Africans. Crime statistics in the country show that violence affects all communities, without racial targeting.

Ramaphosa’s delegation, which included prominent South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen — as well as billionaire Johann Rupert — appeared to have hoped for a more constructive tone, using Trump’s known appreciation for golf and wealth as a diplomatic opening. But the strategy struggled to gain traction.

When asked by reporters whether he had decided if genocide was occurring in South Africa, Trump answered, “I haven’t made up my mind.”

Additionally, Trump lashed out at a reporter asking about a controversial jet reportedly donated by Qatar to the US.

The question came during a bilateral meeting at the White House, where Trump was visibly irritated when pressed about reports that the US accepted a Qatari jet that may be used as a future Air Force One aircraft.

“What are you talking about?” Trump snapped, abruptly interrupting the reporter. “You know, you need to get out of here. What does this have to do with the Qatari jet?”

Trump defended the reported arrangement, calling the aircraft donation “a great thing,” before launching a personal attack on the journalist and targeting Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast Corporation, which owns NBC — the network the reporter was affiliated with.

Adding a dose of levity to the tense exchange, President Ramaphosa quipped, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you.” Trump responded in kind: “If South Africa offered a jet, I would take it.”