WeeklySA_AdminBACK TO THE FUTURE: Trump and Ramaphosa in a major bust-up in the infamous Oval Office as billions of people around the world watch in disbelief
with Sy Makaringe
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his United States’ counterpart Donald Trump will meet in Washington DC soon in a bid to repair frayed relations between the two countries following the withdrawal of USAid funding to South Africa and the sacking of Ebrahim Rasool as South Africa’s ambassador to the US earlier this year.
The following is an edited version of how the subsequent media conference will go down at the Oval Office, the very same space where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was given a dressing down by both Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, on February 28 for the former comedian’s alleged role in the ongoing war in Ukraine:
Trump: Welcome to you all, ladies and gentlemen of the media. We’ve just finished very important discussions with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramafozer …
Ramaphosa (interjects): … Ramaphosa! It’s spelt R-A-M-A-P-H-O-S-A, Mr President.
Trump: Yes, that! Cyril is a great guy. He’s a very successful businessman and a great dealmaker. He and his brother-in-law, Patrice Motsepe, are among a few South African dollar billionaires I’ve met. Cyril is a damn skilful negotiator who, because of his business background, knows how to make a real deal.
He’s a great guy. He’s the sort of guy I can do a deal with. But, unfortunately, he works with very bad people in the ANC. Horrible people! These are the people who are behind the very bad things that are happening in that country, such as the murder of Afrikaner people and the confiscation of their land.
Thanks also to Cyril, I did not know until he told me that Lesotho, that African country that no one in the world has ever heard of, actually exists and is landlocked by South Africa. I also now know, thanks to Cyril again, that Lesotho exports diamonds and clothing to the United States totalling more than $130 billion a year. That’s great for such a tiny country. Over to you, Cyril.
Ramaphosa: Thank you President Trump for affording me this opportunity to state our case as South Africa following an unfortunate wave of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and social media lies that inundated your office about our government and country after your return to the White House on January 20.
The talks we’ve just concluded were cordial, frank, amicable and honest. The US is our strategic partner whose relationship with us is based on mutual respect and trust. We hope that the talks we’ve just held will help to reset our diplomatic relations because South Africans needs to work with the US and the US needs a South Africa that is working.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary: Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the floor is now open for you to pose questions to both presidents.
Megan Messerly, Politico: This question is for President Ramaphosa. President Trump has on numerous occasions expressed his deep displeasure with your country’s decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Was the issue raised at your meeting with President Trump? Did President Trump again ask you to withdraw the case?
Ramaphosa: Yes, the issue was raised. Indeed, President Trump did ask us to withdraw our ICJ case. We have, however, politely and respectfully declined to accede to this request. We believe the stance we’ve taken as South Africa – for Israel to stop the genocide in Gaza and to recognise Palestine’s sovereignty – is a principled one. Having suffered deeply under apartheid, we’re on the side of the Pale….
Trump (interjects): … But, Cyril, you don’t have the cards. Your party, the ANC, has lost its parliamentary majority in the last elections. You represent only 40% of the voters. So, you can’t come here and tell us about principles. There are other parties in that Government of National Unity that do not share this view.
Should South Africa persists in supporting terror groups like Hamas we won’t hesitate to impose hefty tariffs on its exports to the US and sanctions against senior ANC leaders.
Jacqui Heinrich, Fox News: President Ramaphosa, given the outcry that Afrikaners in particular and whites in general are being persecuted in South Africa, there is speculation that you’re likely to appoint a diplomat of Afrikaner extraction as the new South African ambassador to the United States as a way of appeasing President Trump, who has been very passionate about the issue. Does that speculation have any merit?
Ramaphosa: No merit at all. As a government, we’re going to appoint a South African man or woman to represent our interests here in the United States. I’m going to appoint the best possible candidate. Colour or race will not be the determining factor.
Trump: I’ve made it clear to Cyril that he’s free to appoint whomever he wants. But when South Africa tries to impose its policies, like BBBEE, on the United States, (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio knows what to do. We’ve abolished DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) policies to put America First. So, we’re not going to allow any country, South Africa included, to reintroduce DEI policies on American soil through the backdoor. Also, it’s important to note that America recognises two genders – male and female. So, let’s be clear about that.
Kaitlin Collins, CNN: President Ramaphosa, we know how important AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) is to South Africa and Africa. Its future hangs in the balance considering it will be up for discussion in congress around September and in the context of the amoeba-like US’s tariffs regime. Did you discuss AGOA during your meeting with President Trump?
Ramaphosa: Naturally we did. AGOA has played a big role in our economy to the extent that should it be discontinued for whatever reason many jobs will be lost. What must be emphasised, though, is that AGOA is not a one street as both Africa and the US benefit …
Trump (intejects): AGOA is a scam. It’s a big rip-off. It was introduced by a failed president, Bill Clinton, in 2000 to enable these African s**t holes to steal from Americans. For 25 years the American people were being robbed blind through this Act. Even Joe Biden, the most incompetent US president in history, saw through it and his fellow Democratics showed signs of getting tired of it last year. Americans are tired of being ripped off. With me in power, congress is going to chuck AGOA out. I’m pretty sure of that.
Megan Cassella, CNBC: President Trump, how many Afrikaners have applied for refugee status in the United States since you mentioned on your return to the White House that they were being “treated very badly” by the South African government? Don’t you think it was an overreaction on your part?
Trump: An overwhelming number. More than 100 000* Afrikaners have already registered. I’m told the figure is likely to increase tenfold by the end of September. I was expecting this flood. Afrikaner males are being murdered by their thousands. Women are being raped. Their livestock is routinely stolen and their land is being confiscated by these bad people. That’s why I had to give them a safe passage to the US.
Ramaphosa: It’s a pity that some information that gets out of our country is not based on facts …
JD Vance (interjects): Who are you to insinuate that President Trump is lying? Who do you think you are?
Let me tell you who you are. You are a lame duck president. You’ve no cards at all, as President Trump has already told you. You’re on your way out. The sooner you leave the better for the people of South Africa because President (Jacob) Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe Party will take over the government.
That’s the president we can do deals with, not you. President Trump and President Zuma have so many things in common. President Zuma was among the first to wish President Trump well on his return to the White House on January 20. Both President Trump and President Zuma will go for their third terms in 2028 and 2029 respectively, something that has never happened before in both countries. You would be history by then. In fact, you have overstayed your welcome here. Leave the White House now! Guards please escort …
Peter Eleftherios Baker, New York Times (sneaks in a question in the ensuing pandemonium): President Trump, will you attend the G20 Summit in South Africa in November?
JD Vance: Not a chance! President Trump has already said the theme of the summit (Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability) is in conflict with the ethos of his administration, which has abolished Biden’s DEI policies. President Trump is not going to endorse a theme that does not Make America Great Again (MAGA).
* In March the New York Times reported that 8 200 people had registered their interests for refugee status in the US. This fact check was necessary because Trump tends to over-state facts and figures to suit his narrative – Editor.
