Ramaphosa’s U.S. Visit Sparks Backlash at Home Amid Fears of Trump “Ambush”

 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Washington, D.C. for a high-stakes diplomatic mission, but not everyone back home is convinced it’s a wise move. The president is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21 to discuss bilateral trade, strained diplomatic ties, and address the Trump administration’s controversial decision to grant asylum to 59 white South Africans on the basis of alleged racial persecution.

While the South African government insists the visit is a crucial opportunity to reset relations and counter misinformation, a vocal segment of South Africans argue that Ramaphosa should have stayed home voicing concerns that he’s walking into a political trap.

Fears of Humiliation

Many on social media and in political circles are comparing Ramaphosa’s situation to that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was recently humiliated by Trump in a televised Oval Office meeting. In February 2025, Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly chastised Zelensky, accusing him of ingratitude and attempting to force him into accepting terms unfavorable to Ukraine. The moment, broadcast live, was widely criticized as a power play designed to weaken Zelensky’s position and publicly shame him.

“There’s nothing dignified about stepping into a photo op designed to humiliate our president,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This is Zelensky all over again. Trump and his goons will try to jump Ramaphosa and make a spectacle out of it.”

The concerns stem from Trump’s history of using foreign leaders to boost his political image and his penchant for turning diplomatic meetings into campaign fodder. Given his recent labeling of South Africa as a country that persecutes whites based on fringe “white genocide” claims that have been widely discredited critics fear Trump may attempt to publicly corner Ramaphosa into defending policies like land reform in hostile terms.

Who’s Going with Ramaphosa?

Ramaphosa is not traveling alone. His delegation includes Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Trade Minister Parks Tau, and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, who also leads the Democratic Alliance. The makeup of the team is seen as an attempt to present a united, multi-party front amid what could be a diplomatically volatile exchange.

EFF Slams the Visit

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have issued a sharp rebuke of the visit, calling it an act of submission to a hostile foreign agenda. The party accuses Trump of attempting to dictate the course of South Africa’s transformation policies, particularly land reform, and sees Ramaphosa’s willingness to engage as a betrayal of national sovereignty.

The EFF also condemned the U.S. decision to grant asylum to white South Africans, labeling it a political stunt designed to perpetuate a false narrative of "white genocide" and discredit South Africa's efforts to redress historical injustice. The party has gone so far as to demand the revocation of citizenship for any South Africans who accepted Trump’s asylum offer, claiming their actions betray the principles of equality and justice.

According to the EFF, engaging with Trump under these conditions compromises South Africa’s autonomy and sets a dangerous precedent for foreign interference in domestic affairs.