A diplomatic flashpoint escalates
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, America’s President Donald Trump has issued an executive order freezing all US financial assistance to South Africa.
The White House cited two primary reasons for this decision: South Africa’s land expropriation policy, which Trump claims targets white landowners unfairly, and Pretoria’s decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The decision to halt aid—amounting to nearly $440 million in 2023—marks a significant shift in US-South Africa relations and underscores growing global divisions over issues of land reform and international justice.
Trump’s justification: land reform and alleged discrimination
Trump’s order claims South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act shows a “shocking disregard” for property rights and permits land confiscation without compensation from Afrikaner farmers, who are mostly white.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump wrote on social media. “It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention.”
The Expropriation Act, signed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, replaces apartheid-era land policies and enables the government to seize land under specific conditions, such as when land is abandoned or unutilised. The law is subject to judicial review and aims to address racial disparities in land ownership, a legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
White South Africans, who make up roughly 7% of the population, still own nearly three-quarters of the country’s farmland, while black South Africans, comprising over 80% of the population, own just 4%, according to a 2017 land audit.
Ramaphosa, responding to Trump’s accusations during his 2025 SONA speech on Thursday, defended the policy, stating, “We will not be bullied. We will speak with one voice in defense of our national interest, our sovereignty, and our constitutional democracy.”
A policy rooted in conspiracy theories?
Trump’s order aligns with long-standing far-right conspiracy theories about white genocide in South Africa—claims that have been repeatedly debunked by official crime statistics and the country’s largest farmers’ associations.
In 2018, Trump instructed his Secretary of State to investigate the “large scale killing of farmers,” despite no evidence of an organised campaign against white landowners. Now, in 2025, his administration is taking action, prioritising the resettlement of “Afrikaner refugees” in the United States through its refugee admissions program.
Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire and a vocal Trump supporter, has echoed similar claims. In 2023, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), “They are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa.” The South African government dismissed these allegations as misinformation, but Trump’s latest move indicates that such narratives have influenced US policy.
Fallout from South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel
Beyond land expropriation, Trump’s decision to cut aid is also tied to South Africa’s role in the ICJ case against Israel. South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, citing tens of thousands of deaths and a humanitarian crisis following Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.
Washington, a staunch ally of Israel, condemned South Africa’s legal action as an attack on its foreign policy interests. “The United States cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations in its country or its undermining of United States foreign policy,” Trump’s order stated.
Trump’s move comes as he further aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing an international arrest warrant issued by the ICC. Netanyahu praised Trump’s executive order, calling it a bold stance against an “anti-American and antisemitic” court.
The economic and humanitarian impact of the aid freeze
The U.S. has provided extensive aid to South Africa, with nearly 17% of the country’s budget for fighting HIV/AIDS coming from American funding. The abrupt withdrawal of support threatens critical healthcare initiatives, including the fight against tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Additionally, trade relations may be impacted. South Africa is a key participant in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to US markets. While Trump’s executive order does not address AGOA directly, the escalating tensions raise concerns about future economic cooperation.
Global reactions: defiance and division
Trump’s executive order has drawn mixed reactions. Far-right Afrikaner groups welcomed the decision, seeing it as validation of their long-standing grievances. Ernst Roets, executive director of the Afrikaner Foundation, stated that while land seizures had not yet occurred, the law “opens the door to abuse.”
However, within South Africa, Trump’s move has galvanized unity across political lines. Leftist, centrist, and even some right-wing politicians condemned the US president’s characterisation of the land reform law, arguing that it is necessary to address historical injustices.
Internationally, the European Union voiced support for the ICC and criticised Trump’s attempt to undermine global institutions. “The ICC must be able to pursue the fight against global impunity freely,” an EU statement read.
What’s next?
With South Africa refusing to back down and Trump standing firm, this diplomatic standoff shows no signs of de-escalation. The freezing of US aid will likely intensify economic and political tensions, while the fate of white South African refugees in the US remains uncertain.
As the world watches, the broader implications of Trump’s decision—on US-Africa relations, international law, and global diplomacy—will continue to unfold.
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