Lights, video, confrontation – Trump’s meeting with South African leader takes dramatic turn | World News

WASHINGTON: “Turn the lights down,” President Donald Trump mentioned. It was showtime within the Oval Office. Sitting subsequent to him on Wednesday was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was visiting in hopes of reaching new agreements on commerce. But Trump needed to speak about baseless allegations that white farmers in his nation have been being systematically singled out for persecution and homicide. He directed everybody’s consideration to a tv that had been wheeled into the room, and a video started to play. Even for a president who has remodeled the Oval Office from a diplomatic venue right into a gladiatorial area, it was a rare scene. Trump stared on the display whereas Ramaphosa seemed away. For roughly 4 minutes, the video confirmed Black politicians – none a part of Ramaphosa’s authorities or political celebration – utilizing anti-apartheid chants about attacking white South Africans. The politicians have mentioned their feedback aren’t meant to be taken actually; conservative media use them to advance broadly rejected claims that there is a genocide underway in South Africa. The video ended with footage of rows of white crosses, which Trump mentioned represented slain white farmers. “It’s a terrible sight. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he mentioned. Ramaphosa sounded skeptical. “I’d like to know where that is,” he mentioned. “Because this I’ve never seen.” The confrontation echoed Trump’s explosive meeting within the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nearly three months in the past, however this one didn’t devolve into acrimony. While Zelenskyy and Trump ended up arguing in full view of the information media, what unfolded on Wednesday was a fragile dance between two leaders who had clearly ready for the encounter. Trump had extra than simply the video. He additionally shuffled by way of a stack of papers that he mentioned have been printouts of reviews about assaults on white farmers. “Death. Death. Horrible death,” Trump mentioned. His administration has welcomed dozens of Afrikaners to the US as refugees, saying they face discrimination and violence at dwelling. Ramaphosa rejected allegations of genocide in South Africa, which has a painful historical past with race. Once an apartheid nation, it was dominated by a white minority generally known as Afrikaners. The system of racist oppression ended three a long time in the past, and a few pressure stays regardless of largely profitable efforts at reconciliation. But as a substitute of pushing again on Trump by himself, Ramaphosa inspired Trump to hearken to different members of his delegation, together with professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The golf-obsessed US president appeared impressed. “They’re champions,” Trump mentioned. “I respect champions.” Also, there was Johann Rupert, an Afrikaner and luxurious items tycoon who’s South Africa’s richest individual. “We have too many deaths. And it’s across the board. It’s not only white farmers,” Rupert mentioned. He added that “we need Starlink at every local police station,” referencing a satellite tv for pc web service created by Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire standing on the opposite aspect of the room. Musk has been advising Trump, and he is claimed that he cannot get a license to function in South Africa as a result of he is white. Rupert gave a nod to some shared historical past with Trump to stress his nation’s potential. “You and I lived in New York in the 70s. We never thought that New York could be what it became,” he mentioned. He mentioned he was so assured in South Africa’s future that he was constructing cottages for his grandchildren on a farm, and “I often go to bed without locking the door.” The meeting’s deal with South Africa was briefly interrupted when Trump was requested concerning the Pentagon formally accepting a donated Boeing 747 from Qatar, which the president plans to make use of as Air Force One. Trump lashed out on the reporter, saying he was merely attempting to distract from the problems involving white farmers. Ramaphosa discovered humour within the second. “I wish I had a plane to give you,” he mentioned “I wish you did,” Trump responded. “I would take it.” Speaking to reporters after leaving the White House, Ramaphosa mentioned he was happy with the meeting. “You wanted to see drama and something really big happening,” he mentioned. “And I’m sorry that we disappointed you somewhat when it comes to that.” One of the journalists disagreed. “I don’t know what constitutes drama in your book, but that was very dramatic for me, and for everybody else in the room,” he mentioned. “That was a dramatic Oval Office meeting.”