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A contentious exchange occurred between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and an NBC correspondent over President Trump’s remarks concerning a video that purportedly depicted a South African ‘burial site,’ amidst escalating discussions about alleged ‘white genocide‘ in the nation. The contentious issue has sparked debate and raised concerns about white farmers in South Africa and the broader political climate.
Trump’s Presentation Sparks Controversy
In a remarkable moment during a meeting on Wednesday, President Trump presented the unsettling video to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, creating a publicly awkward situation.
Clash Between Leavitt and Alcindor
Karoline Leavitt and NBC’s Yamiche Alcindor engaged in repeated interruptions after the journalist asserted that the material President Trump presented in the Oval Office on Wednesday was factually inaccurate.
- The incident marks the second consecutive day of intense discussions surrounding claims from Trump allies about a purported ‘white genocide‘ occurring in South Africa, particularly as the U.S. considers accepting white South Africans as refugees amid the administration’s ongoing deportation efforts.
The NBC reporter stated, “The president presented a video purportedly showing over 1,000 burial sites of white South Africans who had been murdered. This is demonstrably untrue, and the video does not depict that.”
“I wonder, why did the president choose to show that -,” she began, before being interrupted.
“What’s not true?” Leavitt interjected.
Alcindor, a former PBS correspondent, continued, “It’s not true that the video displayed a burial site.”
“It is unsubstantiated that that’s the case,” she added, initiating a dispute about the precise nature of what Trump presented and claimed during a confrontational White House meeting with the South African president.
“It is true that that video showed the crosses,” said Leavitt, displaying palpable irritation at the questioning, as Alcindor reiterated that it “did not show a burial site, which is what the president claims,” Alcindor interjected.
Leavitt then dismissed the distinction.
“The video shows images of crosses in South Africa related to white farmers who have been killed and politically persecuted because of their skin color,” Leavitt stated.
“The fact that they are now dead …” she continued, as the two women spoke over each other.
“Are you disputing?” Leavitt attempted to ask, before Alcindor countered: “I was disputing the fact that the video showed what the president claimed it showed, because it did not show that.”
This exchange marked one of the most intense one-on-one confrontations to date for Leavitt, 27, who typically moves on after fielding a single question from a reporter.
It followed a day in which Trump criticized NBC’s Peter Alexander when the correspondent questioned him about a new substitute for Air Force One being donated to the Pentagon by the Qatari government.
Ramaphosa’s Visit Overshadowed
As Alcindor noted, Trump himself described the unsettling footage he showed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as depicting ‘burial sites,’ in a startling event that unfolded after playing the clip in a darkened Oval Office.
DOGE head Elon Musk, a South Africa native who has suggested white farmers are facing ‘genocide,’ was present for the event.
“Look here, there’s burial sites all over the place,” Trump stated.
It appears Trump showed video taken of the Witkruis Monument, which memorializes both white and black farmers who have perished in attacks. It was a landmark that Ramaphosa initially could not identify when Trump played the unexpected video.
Raising Tensions
The dramatic display occurred in the Oval Office on Wednesday, creating a moment reminiscent of the dressing down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ramaphosa arrived at the White House seeking to improve South Africa’s relationship with the Trump administration. Trump had previously halted aid to the country, expelled the South African ambassador, and offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners.
Trump has asserted that a race-based ‘genocide’ is unfolding in the African nation, a sentiment echoed by South African-born DOGE leader Elon Musk.
Musk stood among the reporters in the Oval Office during the dramatic showdown, similar to the experience of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ramaphosa’s visit was intended to ease tensions, with him presenting Trump with a golf book and mentioning his efforts to improve his golf game at the beginning of their remarks.
He was accompanied by champion golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert.
However, Trump instead publicly embarrassed Ramaphosa, asking aides to dim the lights in the Oval Office as he played a compilation of speeches from EFF leader Julius Malema, whose signature rally song is ‘Shoot the Boer, Shoot the farmer.’
Trump then displayed a stack of news clippings, including a story from the Daily Mail by writer Sue Reid, highlighting why white South Africans are fleeing violence and ‘racist’ laws.
The Mail’s report detailed a white South African now farming in Arkansas and earning more money because ‘black empowerment’ policies have disadvantaged white job applicants.
“These are articles over the last few days – a death of people, death, death, horrible death, death, death,” Trump said, paging through the clippings and showing them to the cameras. “White South Africans are fleeing because of the violence and ‘racist’ laws,” he continued, reading the Mail’s headline.
“And I’ll give these to you,” Trump told Ramaphosa. “So when you say, ‘What would you like to do?’ I don’t know what to do for this – white South African couples say that they were attacked violently.”
“Look here, there’s burial sites all over the place,” Trump continued.
The president showed a clip of white crosses lining a roadway.
Ramaphosa was aghast, admitting he did not know where that was.
Trump appeared to have shown footage of the Witkruis Monument, which honors both white and black farmers who have died in attacks.
“When you look at the videos, I mean, how does it get worse? And these are people that are officials and they’re saying ‘kill the white farmer and take their land,'” Trump said.
Malema’s rally song was popularized during the anti-apartheid struggle, but Afrikaner lobby groups have equated it to hate speech and sought to ban it.
“That is not government policy. We have a multi-party democracy in South Africa that allows people to express themselves,” Ramaphosa attempted to explain. “And in many cases, or in some cases, those policies do not align with government policy.”
“Our government policy is completely, completely against what he was saying, even in the parliament, and a small minority party, which is allowed to exist in terms of our Constitution,” Ramaphosa said.
Trump then charged: “But you do allow them to take land.”
“They take the land, they kill the white farmer, and when they kill the white farmer, nothing happens to them,” the American president continued.
Trump later asked: “Why would you not arrest this man? That man said ‘kill the white farmers, kill the white farmers’ and then he danced.”
Ramaphosa countered that violence in his country impacted people of all races and disproportionately affected black South Africans.
“There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people; a majority of them are black people,” the South African leader said.
Adding to the dramatic scene was Trump’s repeated criticism of NBC News’ Peter Alexander.
Alexander had initially questioned Trump about why the U.S. was welcoming white South Africans but not Afghan and Venezuelan refugees.
“Well, this is a group, NBC, that is truly fake news,” Trump replied.
Trump became particularly agitated when Alexander inquired about the Qatari plane being given to the Department of Defense directly after Trump played the video clips showing alleged ‘white genocide‘ in South Africa.
“There are all white farmers being buried, and he asks about a jet that was given. You outta be ashamed of yourself. You are so bad, you’re such a bad reporter,” Trump chided.
The news had broken earlier Wednesday that the Pentagon had officially accepted the luxury Boeing jet from the Qataris to be converted into a temporary Air Force One.
“”So why did they gave us a plane to the United States Air Force?’ that’s what that idiot talks about after viewing a thing where thousands of people are dead,” Trump said.
Ramaphosa seized the opportunity.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you,” the South African leader joked.
“I wish you did,” Trump answered. “If your country offered the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it.”
When it was Rupert’s turn to speak, he noted, “It’s not only white farmers; it’s across the board.”
Turning to Musk, he continued.
“We need technological help. We need Starlink at every little police station. We need drones. I actually got drones donated for the peace parks to stop elephant and rhino poaching, and his predecessor stopped the importation because he said the United States would spy on us,” Rupert continued.
Turning to Trump, the prominent businessman said, “Remember, sir, you and I lived in New York in the 70s. We never thought New York would be what it became.”
“We need your help to stop this awful killing, but it’s across the board,” Rupert said.
Ramaphosa offered a positive assessment of the meeting as he departed the West Wing.
“Very well,” he told reporters.
When asked if he thought Trump ‘heard’ him, Ramaphosa reiterated the positive review.
“Yes, he did; it went very well,” Ramaphosa said.