Donald Trump’s recent claims of mass killings of white farmers in South Africa are not supported by facts. A video presented by the U.S. President during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 21, 2025, was meant to show evidence of “ongoing genocide.” However, the footage is outdated, misleading, and taken out of context, reports DW.
The Claim:
During a meeting at the White House, Trump said:
“These are graves. Thousands of white crosses. These are all white farmers and their families. All killed.”
The video, shared widely on social media prior to the meeting, appeared to show a roadside field of white crosses, which Trump cited as proof of mass killings.
The Facts:
Deutsche Welle’s fact-check confirms the claim is false. The video Trump used originated from a 2020 protest in South Africa—not from an actual mass grave.
On September 5, 2020, a civil action group called Move ONE Million organized a protest near Newcastle following the murder of a white farming couple, Glen and Vida Rafferty. As part of the demonstration, hundreds of symbolic white wooden crosses were placed along the roadside to honor victims of rural violence.
These crosses were not grave markers, and the event was widely reported at the time, including by the Newcastle Advertiser.
More Misleading Footage:
Another part of the video included footage of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, chanting:
“Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.”
This was recorded at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in August 2023, during EFF’s 10th anniversary rally. While the chant is historically linked to anti-apartheid struggle songs, it has repeatedly been ruled hate speech by South African courts. President Ramaphosa distanced himself from these messages, stating:
“These speeches are not part of the government’s policy.”
No Genocide Is Occurring:
South African farmer Theo de Jager told Deutsche Welle that there is no genocide against white farmers. In response to Trump offering asylum to 59 Afrikaner farmers, De Jager said:
“I fear Trump does not fully understand the situation here. This isn’t just about race. Black farmers face similar threats.”
He added that local farmers would prefer international support for structural reforms, not political grandstanding.
Historical Inequality Remains:
Land ownership in South Africa is still vastly unequal decades after apartheid:
- White South Africans own about 72% of agricultural land.
- Black South Africans own only around 4%, despite comprising the majority population.
This imbalance has fueled tensions, but there is no verified evidence of a racially-motivated extermination campaign as Trump implied.
The video presented by Trump does not prove a genocide. It is a recycled protest video misrepresented to support a dangerous narrative rooted in far-right conspiracy theories, such as the “Great Replacement.”
Spreading misinformation about genocide not only distorts the truth but also fuels division and hate.
