Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has recently become a focal point in escalating diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States. During a May 21, 2025, Oval Office meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video montage featuring Malema’s controversial speeches, including chants of “Kill the Boer,” alleging these as evidence of a so-called “white genocide” against white South African farmers.

President Ramaphosa refuted these claims, emphasizing that South Africa’s crime rates affect all citizens, with the majority of victims being Black South Africans. He clarified that Malema’s views do not represent government policy, noting that Malema was expelled from the ruling African National Congress in 2011 and that his EFF party holds less than 10% of parliamentary seats.

In response to the incident, Malema took to social media, criticizing the U.S. President’s actions and dismissing the allegations as baseless. He stated, “A group of older men meet in Washington to gossip about me. No significant amount of intelligent evidence has been produced about a so-called white genocide.”

Malema also addressed the issue of Afrikaner asylum seekers in the U.S., suggesting that those leaving South Africa are not genuine farmers but individuals seeking economic opportunities abroad. He remarked that they resemble “car guards,” implying they are not representative of the farming community.

This diplomatic episode has intensified debates over land reform and racial tensions in South Africa, with Malema’s rhetoric drawing both domestic and international scrutiny.