Cyril Ramaphosa Shares Humorous Anecdote from Meeting with Trump

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa humorously recounted his bizarre meeting with Donald Trump, which featured alarming claims about a supposed ‘white genocide.’ During the White House encounter, Trump presented misleading footage, triggering laughter and disbelief from Ramaphosa. The event has raised concerns over the dissemination of misinformation and strained diplomatic ties.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shared his humorous take on a recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump during an event dubbed the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in Cape Town. He recalled how the lights dimmed unexpectedly at the meeting and joked that this moment reminded him of his conversation with Trump saying, “When I came in, I saw the room going a bit dark. They darkened the room. And for a moment, I wondered, ‘What is this? It’s happening to me again,’” eliciting laughter from the audience.

During Ramaphosa’s meeting with Trump at the White House, the former U.S. president took a sharp turn in their otherwise friendly interaction. He reportedly presented a video alleging a “white genocide” in South Africa—where Black citizens are supposedly attacking white farmers—while South African billionaire Elon Musk observed. Ramaphosa found this moment unsettling, sharing with the audience that he was starting to feel comfortable when Trump unexpectedly called to dim the lights: “No, dim the lights,” he recalled, inducing more laughter from attendees.

Fact-checkers have since pointed out that Trump’s claims about the video were unfounded. The footage purportedly depicting burial grounds instead showcased white crosses that were erected in memory of a couple who tragically lost their lives in 2020. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed this but dismissed allegations regarding the inaccuracies of Trump’s statements, noting instead that the video showed memorials for those racially persecuted.

Ramaphosa recounted the bizarre atmosphere of his meeting with Trump, describing the situation as almost an ambush, reflecting on how several people characterized the encounter as such. He added, “I must say, a number of people have said, ‘This was an ambush. This was an ambush,’ and I was bemused. I was saying, ‘What’s happening?’” The meeting has attracted attention, especially due to its similarity to Trump’s past confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Moreover, during the Oval Office meeting, Trump presented a printout from “American Thinker,” suggesting it highlighted the plight of white farmers, which the publication’s managing editor later confirmed had been misrepresented. The image used was unrelated to South Africa, as it actually depicted humanitarian workers in the Congo carrying body bags, indicating a substantial misunderstanding of the situation.

In summary, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s encounter with Donald Trump has drawn considerable attention due to its absurdity and the serious nature of allegations made during the meeting. His humorous take served to highlight the bizarre claims Trump brought forth regarding a supposed ‘white genocide’ in South Africa, which fact-checkers have disputed. The incident underscores the tension inherent in U.S.-South Africa relations and the power of misinformation in shaping international discourse.

Original Source: www.thedailybeast.com