The Daily Signal Victor Davis Hanson: The Truth About South Africa’s Anti-American Agenda
May 28, 2025
Victor Davis Hanson dives into the shifting dynamics of South Africa's relationship with the U.S., highlighting its growing hostility and contentious policies. He discusses how the nation leverages American generosity while criticizing it, particularly regarding land appropriation issues. Trump's interactions with South Africa's president offer insight into the political tensions at play. Hanson warns that the remnants of Mandela's legacy are fading, leaving a complex and challenging landscape for U.S.-South African relations.
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South Africa's Hostile Trade Stance
- South Africa runs a $9 billion trade surplus with the U.S. while receiving $500 million in U.S. foreign aid.
- Despite this, it shows hostility toward the U.S. and expelled its ambassador for calling Donald Trump a white supremacist.
Shift from Mandela's Legacy
- South Africa's political climate has shifted away from Nelson Mandela's legacy toward racialist and anti-Western rhetoric.
- Hate speech laws in South Africa controversially exclude calls like "kill the farmer" from being classified as hate speech.
Trump's Firm Response to Ramaphosa
- Donald Trump confronted South Africa's hostility by cutting $500 million in foreign aid and imposing a 30% tariff.
- Trump directly challenged the narrative that he was a white supremacist during a tense meeting with Ramaphosa.