31 h. ago South Africa’s president praised for ‘calm demeanour’ during Trump meeting

In an Oval Office encounter in which the US president made false claims of ‘white genocide’, Cyril Ramaphosa kept his coolTrump’s ‘white genocide’ claims ignore the reality of life and crime in South AfricaMany South Africans praised their president Cyril Ramaphosa for staying calm when Donald Trump ambushed him in the Oval Office with a video purporting to back up his false claims of a “genocide” against white Afrikaner farmers.Others asked why Ramaphosa, who brought ministers, golfers and a billionaire with him, chose to walk into what he knew was likely to be a trap. Continue reading...

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36 h. ago Trump’s new approach to foreign diplomacy: Oval Office smackdowns

President has taken to berating foreign leaders and reporters at length, foregoing traditional press conferences

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40 h. ago The Guardian view on the US and South Africa: Trump looks to his base and partners look elsewhere | Editorial

The president’s cynical ambush of Cyril Ramaphosa was not about American interests but racial grievancesThe most telling moment of Donald Trump’s meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa was not the cynical screening of footage promoting false claims of “white genocide” in South Africa. It was when a reporter asked the US president what he wanted his counterpart to do about it. Mr Trump replied: “I don’t know.”Leaders enter the Oval Office uneasily, especially since the kicking administered to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The South African president came armed with gratitude, two golf stars, a billionaire and compliments on the decor – and kept a cool head and a straight face as he was ambushed. Mr Ramaphosa later described it as “robust engagement”. But, in truth, it was a clash of two worlds rather than an interaction.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, ...

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40 h. ago Martin Rowson on Donald Trump’s Oval Office clash with Cyril Ramaphosa – cartoon

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43 h. ago Ramaphosa withstood Trump’s bizarre ambush – but he let down South Africans | Zanele Mji

Rather than trying to charm his US counterpart with golf, the South African president could have addressed the white supremacist attitudes holding our country backZanele Mji is a writer, investigative journalist and podcaster based in Johannesburg, South AfricaThe dust is still settling from Donald Trump’s latest “ambush” in the Oval Office. What started off as a series of pleasantries about golf between the US president and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation quickly turned into a lecture – complete with a video screening and reams of printed-out news articles – about how a white genocide is supposedly under way in my home country.The delegation was largely successful in correcting that narrative. It emphasised that crime affects South Africans of all races and that white citizens are not specifically targeted. Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, rightly pointed out that in rural areas, it is Black women who bear the brunt of vio...

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43 h. ago Watch Trump and South Africa’s president in tense exchange during Oval Office ambush

Donald Trump confronted South Africa’s president over unsubstantiated claims of genocide against white farmers in South Africa in a tense Oval Office exchange on Wednesday (21 May).

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58 h. ago Donald Trump erupts in furious Oval Office tirade at journalist

Donald Trump went on a furious rant at a journalist in the Oval Office as he hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa - before telling him to "get out"

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58 h. ago Moment Donald Trump's makes brutal remark to reporter in Oval Office and demands he 'get out'

The US President was hosting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office when he was shown a video of white South Africans mourning their loved ones

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59 h. ago I'm glad Trump used my story to expose the shame of South Africa... I'm haunted by their vile anthem and the world should be too

Yesterday, President Donald Trump brandished an article written by me in the Oval Office to make a powerful political point to the leader of another country.

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61 h. ago Trump ambushes South African leader with evidence of ‘genocide’ during Oval Office meeting

Despite tense moments, Ramaphosa says Trump ‘heard’ him, and meeting ‘went very well’

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61 h. ago ‘Wonder who he is going to fire’: Social media mocks Trump over noticeable bald spot during Oval Office meeting

Many took to social media to crack jokes after images of the president’s apparent bald spot emerged online.

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62 h. ago Trump ambushes South African president with video and false claims of anti

Cyril Ramaphosa responds to hectoring stunt in Oval Office and egregious claim of white genocide by suggesting calmUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump ambushed the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, by playing him a video that he falsely claimed proved genocide was being committed against white people under “the opposite of apartheid”.The hectoring stunt on Wednesday set up the most tense Oval Office encounter since Trump’s bullying of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. But Ramaphosa – who earlier said that he had come to Washington to “reset” the relationship between the two countries – refused to take the bait and suggested that they “talk about it very calmly”. Continue reading...

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63 h. ago Trump’s attempt at Oval Office ‘gotcha’ moment backfired spectacularly

ANALYSIS: Armed with printouts of tabloid news articles and a montage of video clips, Trump launched into a meandering explanation of the current political situation in South Africa to its president Cyril Ramaphosa, Richard Hall writes.

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63 h. ago Trump makes South African president squirm by playing 'white genocide' video montage during astonishing Oval Office moment

Donald Trump put on a stunning shaming in the Oval Office, showing clips to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that purported to show evidence of a 'white genocide' in his country.

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64 h. ago Trump’s bald spot during Oval Office meeting draws laughter on social media

Many took to social media to crack jokes after images of the president’s apparent bald spot emerged online.

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64 h. ago Trump surprises South African leader in Oval Office with ‘genocide’ evidence including video and photos

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government’s policy is ‘completely against’ policies espoused by the leader of a minority party who calls for killing of farmers

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65 h. ago Trump ambushes South African leader with evidence of ‘genocide’ during Oval Office meeting: Live updates

Trade agreements and investment opportunities said to be on table as two nations work to reset relations

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3 d. ago Donald Trump Jr says ‘maybe one day’ when asked if would ever run for president – US politics live

President’s eldest son says ‘that calling is there’ while speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration will move forward with developing the so-called “Golden Dome” missile defense system that he envisions will protect the United States from possible foreign strikes using ground and space-based weapons.Flanked by the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, in the Oval Office, Trump also said that he wanted the project to be operational before he left office. He added that Republicans had agreed to allocate $25bn in initial funding and Canada had expressed an interest in taking part.The Trump administration said it will permit use of Covid vaccines by adults over 65 and those with certain medical conditions in the fall, raising questions about whether some people who want a vaccine will be able to get one. The FDA framework, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, urges companies to conduct large, lengthy studies before tweaked ...

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3 d. ago South Africa’s Ramaphosa expected to take golf stars to Trump meeting

Ernie Els and Retief Goosen reportedly part of delegation as president seeks to reset ties after white ‘genocide’ claimsThe South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is expected to take the golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen with him to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as the government attempts to reset relations with the US amid Trump’s accusations that it is fomenting a white “genocide”.Ramaphosa’s appeal to Trump’s love of golf, with the potential inclusion of Els and Goosen reported by South African local media, is part of his efforts to avoid a public dressing down of the kind Trump gave to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in February. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Trump rolls out Golden Dome missile defense project and appoints leader

Gen Michael Guetlein of space force will be in charge of defense system that could exceed $540bn over 20 yearsUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration will move forward with developing a multibillion-dollar missile defense system, called “Golden Dome,” that he envisions will protect the United States from possible foreign strikes using ground and space-based weapons.Flanked by the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, in the Oval Office, Trump also said that he wanted the project to be operational before he left office. He added that Republicans had agreed to allocate $25bn in initial funding and Canada had expressed an interest in taking part. Continue reading...

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