January 23, 2026
Not so black and white: Trump is battling an imaginary genocide in South Africa
The 2026 G20 summit is set to take place in Miami this December, and Trump has already officially stated that South Africa will not be invited, citing “the genocide of the white population.” Trump has long criticized South Africa for the “oppression of Afrikaners” and, under the same pretext, in early 2025 halted all economic assistance to Pretoria. Yet within South Africa itself, white farmers do not feel discriminated against and do not consider the word “genocide” to appropriately describe what is happening, while even local right-wing groups are disavowing U.S. aid. The only political figure in the country who openly sings songs calling to “kill the Boer” is marginal populist Julius Malema — who is backed by the Kremlin and constantly praises Putin.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump and other right-wing figures have promoted the false narrative of a "white genocide" in South Africa.
- This narrative is linked to South Africa's land reform policies, specifically the Expropriation Act, which aims to address historical inequalities stemming from apartheid.
- The song "Kill the Boer" (Dubul’ ibhunu) is a relic of the anti-apartheid era, not current widespread incitement to violence.
- South Africa faces high overall crime rates affecting all population groups, influenced by factors like legacy of apartheid, inequality, illegal weapons, corruption, and underfunded law enforcement.
- While "white farmers" are victims of crime, statistics do not show disproportionate violence against them based on race; motives are primarily robbery.
- Land ownership in South Africa remains unequal, with whites owning a disproportionate percentage of privately held land, a direct consequence of apartheid.
- Claims made by Elon Musk regarding Starlink's inability to operate in South Africa due to his race have been disputed by the country's licensing authority.
- The Solidarity Movement, a white South African organization, has stated it does not support false information about race-based land grabs or calls for sanctions against South Africa.
- Extreme inequality and high overall crime levels, rooted in the apartheid era, contribute to the security measures taken by white farmers, not a genocide.