Trump and South Africa Clash Over White Farmer Claims \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Golf greats Ernie Els and Retief Goosen joined South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House to counter Donald Trump’s claims of anti-white violence in South Africa. Trump has slashed aid and granted refugee status to white farmers, citing unproven genocide allegations. Els emphasized reconciliation and unity during the visit.
Quick Looks
- Ernie Els, Retief Goosen visit White House with Ramaphosa
- Trump claims of white farmer “genocide” spark international tension
- Trump cut aid, welcomed white South Africans as refugees
- Experts say no evidence of race-based targeting in SA
- Els urges U.S. support for peaceful progress in South Africa
- Ramaphosa rebukes Trump’s accusations of land seizures and racism
- Els recalls Mandela’s forgiveness and post-apartheid unity
- Goosen speaks on challenges faced by his farming family
- Trump, a longtime golf fan, hosted the athletes
- Visit coincided with Senior PGA Championship in Washington
- Ramaphosa invokes sports to rebuild U.S.-SA relations
Deep Look
Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, two of South Africa’s most celebrated golfers, made an unusual detour this week from their pursuit of a senior major golf title to the most politically charged of venues—the White House. Their visit wasn’t about trophies or tee times, but to lend symbolic weight to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to refute Donald Trump’s inflammatory claims about white farmers being systematically targeted for violence in their homeland.
At the heart of the visit was a growing rift between the United States and South Africa fueled by Trump’s unfounded accusations that the Black-led South African government is engaged in a campaign of land seizures and anti-white violence—a narrative widely discredited by international experts but embraced by right-wing media and echoed by some Republican lawmakers.
A Golf Summit in a Political Storm
Ramaphosa, seeking to repair ties, brought with him two of South Africa’s most iconic athletes. Els and Goosen, who together have won six major championships, joined the president in the White House, where they addressed Trump and attempted to steer the conversation back to unity and progress rather than division.
“We’re proud South Africans,” said Els. “We want to see things get better in our home country. That’s the bottom line.”
Their presence wasn’t random. Trump, a former developer of elite golf resorts, has long associated himself with the sport’s luminaries. He first played with Els in 2017, during his first year as president, and has previously honored South African golf legend Gary Player with the Presidential Medal of Freedom—awarded just one day after the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021.
Ramaphosa Pushes Back Against “Genocide” Narrative
Trump has made controversial claims about the treatment of white farmers in South Africa, alleging they face racially motivated violence and land confiscation. He cut U.S. aid to the country and welcomed dozens of white South African farmers as refugees in a symbolic rebuke of the Ramaphosa administration.
But during the White House visit, Ramaphosa rejected the notion of a white genocide, insisting the government’s land reform is lawful, nonracial, and essential for addressing decades of apartheid-era inequality.
Experts agree. Crime in South Africa affects all races, and while farm attacks are a serious issue, they are not racially motivated, according to police statistics and independent researchers.
Els Speaks of Forgiveness, Unity, and Mandela’s Legacy
Reflecting on his own upbringing during apartheid, Els struck a conciliatory tone, invoking the legacy of Nelson Mandela, who emerged from 27 years of imprisonment without bitterness, choosing instead to build a multiracial democracy through unity—often using sports as the medium.
“I know there’s a lot of anger from the transition,” said Els. “But I don’t think two wrongs make a right.”
He cited national milestones like South Africa’s victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup and African Cup of Nations in soccer as examples of how sport has unified the country.
Goosen’s Personal Farming Experience Adds Perspective
Goosen, who famously survived a lightning strike before going on to win two U.S. Opens, shared a more personal perspective. He said his brother still manages the family’s farm in Polokwane, but it is increasingly difficult.
“There’s always this pressure—they’re trying to burn down the farm, push you out,” Goosen said. Though he didn’t directly support the genocide narrative, his comments highlighted the ongoing instability in rural areas, where land disputes and violence are prevalent.
Golf Diplomacy Amid High Stakes
Both golfers were in Washington for the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in nearby Maryland. But their presence at the White House served a broader purpose: to humanize the South African story, provide historical context, and offer a counternarrative to Trump’s claims.
Trump, for his part, appeared pleased to be among sporting legends and framed the aircraft as being “given to the United States Air Force,” deflecting questions about the nature of the Qatari gift. (This refers to another event happening the same week.)
Els said his decision to attend was rooted in gratitude for what the U.S. has given him and his family. “Whether you agree or not, I felt it was a duty,” he told the AP. “It’s basically honoring what the United States has done for me.”
What’s at Stake
Ramaphosa’s visit aimed to recalibrate relations with Washington, soothe tensions over immigration and foreign aid, and highlight the continued transformation of South Africa post-apartheid. But with Trump’s rhetoric shaping public opinion, such gestures are as much about symbolism as substance.
If the meeting helps ease misconceptions and shifts attention back to shared democratic values, then the visit—while unconventional—may prove significant.
As Els put it: “We still want to see our country flourish. There’s a lot of co-existence going on, but we need the U.S. to push this thing through.”
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