U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he plans to cut off funding to South Africa, citing unverified claims that “certain classes of people” in the country are being treated “very badly.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused South Africa of confiscating land and mistreating specific groups, though he did not provide evidence or specify which groups he was referring to.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention,” said Trump on Truth Social. “A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”
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The motivation behind Trump’s post remains unclear, as he did not elaborate on the alleged mistreatment or provide details about the groups affected. The South African embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to requests for comment outside of regular business hours.
According to the most recent U.S. government data, the United States provided nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023. Cutting off this funding could have significant implications for South Africa, which is currently serving as the president of the G20. The U.S. is set to assume the G20 presidency next.
This is not the first time Trump has raised concerns about South Africa. During his first administration, Trump claimed that white farmers in South Africa were facing large-scale killings and violent land seizures. At the time, the South African government dismissed Trump’s claims as misinformed, and it remains unclear whether the Trump administration ever investigated the matter.
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Trump’s latest comments come amid ongoing debates about land reform in South Africa, a contentious issue rooted in the country’s history of apartheid. The South African government has pursued policies aimed at addressing historical land inequalities, but these efforts have been met with criticism and controversy, both domestically and internationally.
Trump’s close ally, Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has also weighed in on the issue. In 2023, Musk responded to a video on X showing members of a far-left South African political party singing “Kill the Boer,” an old anti-apartheid song. Musk accused the group of “openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa” and questioned why South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had not addressed the issue.
“@CyrilRamaphosa, why do you say nothing?” Musk wrote.
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