South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., next week, at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations, Pretoria announced late Wednesday.
According to a statement from the South African presidency, the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the White House and will focus on bilateral, regional, and global issues. The visit, Pretoria said, offers “an opportunity to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries.”
Rising Tensions and Immigration Controversy
Relations between South Africa and the United States have been strained for months due to a series of political disagreements. Tensions intensified this week after the U.S. government resettled a group of 49 white Afrikaners, whom President Trump claims are victims of “persecution” in South Africa—a claim South African officials have strongly rejected.
While Trump had largely halted refugee admissions during his presidency, he made an exception for Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers—citing alleged threats against them in South Africa. Pretoria has dismissed these claims as baseless and politically motivated.
“There’s no genocide here,” said South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile following the group’s arrival. “We are a beautiful, happy people—Black and white—working and living together.” He added that Ramaphosa would invite Trump to visit South Africa “to see it for himself.”
Policy Clashes and Diplomatic Fallout
The U.S. administration has criticized South Africa on multiple fronts, including its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the country’s land reform policies, which include a land expropriation bill aimed at addressing historical injustices. Washington has voiced concern that the law could permit the seizure of white-owned property without compensation.
In March, diplomatic relations further deteriorated when the U.S. expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, after he publicly criticized Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement during a virtual seminar.
Pretoria responded by calling Trump’s rhetoric “entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy.”
Trade and Economic Concerns
Trade is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. The U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, but the relationship has been under strain since Trump announced sweeping tariffs in April, targeting key sectors such as automobiles and citrus exports. Although the tariffs have been paused for 90 days, uncertainty remains.
Ramaphosa’s visit, which will run from Monday through Thursday, is being described as a “working visit” with a strong focus on restoring diplomatic ties and stabilizing economic relations.
