Slate News What Next | Trump’s South Africa Fixation
Feb 12, 2025
Chris McGreal, a seasoned writer for The Guardian US, shares his insights on South African politics and history. He discusses Trump's controversial executive orders regarding South Africa, particularly the focus on white Afrikaners and land reform. McGreal critiques Trump's simplistic views versus the complex realities of post-apartheid issues. The conversation also explores the role of figures like Elon Musk in shaping these narratives, including their business interests and the implications for economic equity in South Africa.
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Trump's South Africa Fixation
- Donald Trump's concern for South African whites began during his first term after watching a segment on Tucker Carlson's show.
- Trump tweeted at Mike Pompeo, urging investigation into land seizures and alleged killings of white Afrikaners.
Trump's simplistic view
- Trump's focus on South Africa seems to be based on a simplified worldview and lack of understanding about the country's complexities.
- His stance aligns with white grievance narratives in the post-apartheid state.
Afrikaner Misinformation
- White farmers in South Africa are victims of high crime and murder rates, but not at a disproportionately higher rate than Black South Africans.
- Afrikaner groups falsely portray the situation as similar to Zimbabwe's land seizures under Mugabe.