Tensions Rise as Trump Invokes Julius Malema During South Africa Meeting

Julius Malema, a controversial leader from South Africa, emerged as a focal point during a meeting between Presidents Trump and Ramaphosa, where the White House played a video montage of his provocative chants. The incident underscores ongoing debates surrounding racism and land ownership in South Africa.

In a recent Oval Office meeting, President Trump stirred controversy by playing a video montage featuring Julius Malema, a prominent South African politician known for his inflammatory rhetoric. Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was not present during the discussions held on May 22, 2025, but his presence was felt as Trump made pointed remarks about racial tensions in South Africa.

Malema, aged 44, has gained attention for his radical stance advocating the redistribution of white-owned land to Black South Africans. Despite his party’s diminished electoral power—winning less than 10 percent of the 2024 vote—he remains a polarizing figure in South African politics.

In response to the Oval Office meeting, Malema took to social media, characterizing the gathering as a mere “gossip session” among older men and dismissed accusations of “white genocide” as baseless. His controversial past includes a 2023 rally where he chanted the notorious phrase, “Kill the Boer,” inciting outrage among Afrikaans-speaking farmers and those concerned about racial violence.

As the Trump administration continues to navigate international relations, Malema’s incendiary rhetoric and the presentation of his past actions during the meeting exemplify the complex and often fraught dynamics between the U.S. and South Africa. The implications of this encounter remain to be seen as conversations about race and land ownership persist in both countries.