In Davos, Trump repeats claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa
US President Donald Trump has again claimed that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa, repeating a long-disputed allegation while speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump said white farmers in South Africa were being targeted and described the situation as “terrible,” insisting it was supported by evidence he had seen. When asked what would change his view, he said “the numbers” and “the records” proved his point, adding that the situation “has got to be stopped.”
The claim has been repeatedly rejected by South Africa’s government, researchers and human rights groups, who say there is no evidence of genocide against white people in the country. South Africa has high levels of violent crime that affect all communities, and farm attacks are not limited to white farmers.
In May 2025, during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, he presented printed articles and images that he said showed evidence of killings and mass burials of white farmers. Some of the images were later shown to be unrelated to South Africa.
One image Trump described as showing burial sites of white farmers was in fact a screenshot from Reuters footage filmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, showing humanitarian workers handling bodies after fighting in the city of Goma involving Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
