The United States will begin offering a rapid pathway to citizenship for South African farmers, as announced by President Trump in a social media post on Friday. The president made claims that the South African government is confiscating land from farmers, stating, “and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT.”
This announcement aligns with previous statements made by Mr. Trump regarding South Africa, including an executive order issued last month that suspended all American aid to the country and proposed refugee status for Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority.
In January, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law allowing the government to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation, prompting Mr. Trump to criticize the South African government. Elon Musk, a South African native, has supported Mr. Trump's assertions through social media posts that accuse the South African government of enacting openly racist laws.
Mr. Trump described South Africa as “a bad place to be right now” in his recent post. This statement coincides with the South African government's efforts to negotiate a trade deal with Mr. Trump, aiming to alleviate tensions and maintain a strong relationship with the United States. President Ramaphosa has previously stated that Mr. Trump is spreading misinformation and expressed a desire to meet with him to clarify issues.
Vincent Magwenya, a spokesperson for President Ramaphosa, responded to Mr. Trump's post by emphasizing the South African government's commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States, which should be based on mutual respect and sovereignty.
Notably, Mr. Trump's post differed from his executive order by suggesting that farmers, in general, could seek refuge in the United States, rather than specifically offering refuge to Afrikaners. While most major commercial farmers in South Africa are white, the majority of farmers overall are Black, many of whom grow food for their families.
It remains uncertain whether Mr. Trump will extend refugee status and rapid citizenship to Black farmers, especially considering his administration's focus on limiting refugee intake since returning to office in January.
Some conservative Afrikaners have sought to leverage Mr. Trump's support, with a delegation meeting White House officials last week to request U.S. funding for community development and to urge pressure on the South African government to repeal laws addressing apartheid-era inequalities that they perceive as discriminatory against white individuals.
However, many Afrikaner activists have expressed a preference for improving conditions in South Africa over relocating to the United States.