Ramaphosa to meet Trump at White House amid strained relations
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks as he attends a panel at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, May 12, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Ramaphosa is set to visit the White House on May 21st to “reset” ties with Trump.
- Tensions between the US and South Africa have flared over land reform and the Israel genocide case.
- The spotlight is on white South African refugees, aid cuts and diplomacy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the United States on a working visit next week and will meet US President Donald Trump on May 21, Ramaphosa's office said in a statement late on Wednesday.
"President Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest," South Africa's presidency said.
"The president's visit to the US provides a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries," the statement added.
Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have soured significantly since Trump returned to the White House in January.
Trump has cut all U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land reform policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally, Israel.
Also read: Why did Donald Trump threaten South Africa?
This week, the Trump administration welcomed 49 white South Africans it has granted refugee status, having deemed them victims of racial discrimination.
South Africa maintains there is no evidence of persecution of white people in the country, and Ramaphosa has said the U.S. government "has got the wrong end of the stick".
The United States is South Africa's second-largest bilateral trading partner after China
