Trump puts South Africa's president on the defensive over 'genocide' claims

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

57% : Trump, perhaps tipping his hand and what was to come, was somewhat more circumspect, describing Ramaphosa as "certainly, in some circles, really respected -- in other circles, a little bit less respected.
52% : "You're taking people's land away from them," Trump continued.
49% : Despite the certainty with which he'd spoken about the situation, he hedged: "I haven't made up my mind.
49% : Ramaphosa thanked Trump for sending South Africa ventilators during the Covid pandemic and said he'd been practicing golf at Trump's urging.
41% : But Trump did not dismiss the contingent of journalists from the Oval, instead taking another question and continuing his broadside.
36% : Vice President JD Vance, seated on a couch beside Trump, then interjected with a question for Ramaphosa.
33% : Ramaphosa brought with him two white professional golfers from South Africa, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els, who spoke about crime in South Africa and urged Trump to help the country address the situation.
29% : " But Trump wouldn't relent, asking Ramaphosa why those opposition leaders were allowed to go free after speech that encouraged violence.
26% : The ensuing back-and-forth was contentious at times and went on for more than a half hour, televised, as Trump, eager to highlight unproven claims of "genocide" against South Africa's white population, was loath to let it go.
23% : As Trump continued to insist that "when they kill the white farmer, nothing happens," Ramaphosa attempted to counter, acknowledging that "there is criminality in our country" and making clear he was willing to talk about the president's concerns.
23% : As the public part of the meeting hit the hour mark, a reporter asked Trump if he was convinced that genocide is occuring in South Africa.
12% : Trump said "He said: 'Kill the white farmers!'" At one point, Trump referenced Elon Musk, the South Africa-born billionaire and informal adviser who stood to his left behind the sofa.

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