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talkpolitics2025-05-27 03:53 pm
nairiporter) wrote in talkpolitics2025-05-27 03:53 pm
Case in point for Trump's hostile diplomacy style
Three months into Donald Trump's second term, it's becoming clear to foreign leaders that a visit to the Oval Office can come with a high risk of public embarrassment. As the BBC reports, such meetings often turn into spectacles of criticism, provocation, and even humiliation:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c753rlw4430o
The latest example came during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit. In a highly choreographed episode, Trump ambushed his guest with dimmed lights, a dramatic video presentation, and numerous media clippings. The presentation centered around discredited claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa - allegations that white farmers were being systematically targeted and killed.
When a journalist asked Trump what it would take to convince him these claims were false, Ramaphosa responded first, calmly suggesting the US President "listen to the voices of South Africans". Trump then asked a staff member to dim the lights and turn on a television to "show a few things" to the South African leader.
Sitting quietly nearby was Elon Musk, the South African born billionaire and Trump adviser, observing the exchange.
Trump proceeded with a dramatic display, showcasing videos of South African political activists chanting anti-apartheid slogans like "Shoot the Boer". He used these as supposed evidence of a racial campaign against white South Africans. Despite his usual criticism of the media, Trump appeared pleased to showcase unverified footage and blurry images. When asked where the alleged mass graves were located, his vague answer was simply, "South Africa".
Trump also appeared to misunderstand the roles of the political figures shown in the videos, implying they had government authority to seize land. In reality, they are not part of the government. While President Ramaphosa did sign a controversial land reform bill allowing for expropriation without compensation, it has not yet been implemented, and Ramaphosa has publicly distanced himself from the aggressive rhetoric shown in the clips.
Ramaphosa, a key figure in ending apartheid and a close ally of Nelson Mandela, came prepared. Aware of Trump's personal interests, he brought with him two famous white South African golfers - Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and even a white agriculture minister from an opposition party that is part of South Africa's coalition government. The presence of these figures seemed designed, at least in part, to neutralise Trump's expected focus on race and land ownership.
Trump, a known golf enthusiast, was clearly pleased by the golfers' attendance. In fact, they received almost as much attention during the meeting as Ramaphosa himself. The South African president kept his remarks measured and brief, allowing the golfers and other delegation members to deflect some of Trump's pressure.
At one point, Ramaphosa subtly pushed back, saying, "If there were a genocide against Afrikaner farmers, I doubt these three gentlemen would be here with me today". It was a quiet but pointed rebuttal to Trump's narrative.
Although Trump did not succeed in provoking an emotional reaction from Ramaphosa, the incident was far from meaningless. Trump's theatrical style of diplomacy is aimed not just at his guests, but at his American audience. Keeping his base energised with stories of perceived injustice and threats abroad is a key part of his "Make America Great Again" platform.
If other foreign leaders learn to navigate these high-stakes meetings with calm and strategy as Ramaphosa did, Trump may eventually need to adapt his approach to maintain the same dramatic effect.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c753rlw4430o
The latest example came during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit. In a highly choreographed episode, Trump ambushed his guest with dimmed lights, a dramatic video presentation, and numerous media clippings. The presentation centered around discredited claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa - allegations that white farmers were being systematically targeted and killed.
When a journalist asked Trump what it would take to convince him these claims were false, Ramaphosa responded first, calmly suggesting the US President "listen to the voices of South Africans". Trump then asked a staff member to dim the lights and turn on a television to "show a few things" to the South African leader.
Sitting quietly nearby was Elon Musk, the South African born billionaire and Trump adviser, observing the exchange.
Trump proceeded with a dramatic display, showcasing videos of South African political activists chanting anti-apartheid slogans like "Shoot the Boer". He used these as supposed evidence of a racial campaign against white South Africans. Despite his usual criticism of the media, Trump appeared pleased to showcase unverified footage and blurry images. When asked where the alleged mass graves were located, his vague answer was simply, "South Africa".
Trump also appeared to misunderstand the roles of the political figures shown in the videos, implying they had government authority to seize land. In reality, they are not part of the government. While President Ramaphosa did sign a controversial land reform bill allowing for expropriation without compensation, it has not yet been implemented, and Ramaphosa has publicly distanced himself from the aggressive rhetoric shown in the clips.
Ramaphosa, a key figure in ending apartheid and a close ally of Nelson Mandela, came prepared. Aware of Trump's personal interests, he brought with him two famous white South African golfers - Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and even a white agriculture minister from an opposition party that is part of South Africa's coalition government. The presence of these figures seemed designed, at least in part, to neutralise Trump's expected focus on race and land ownership.
Trump, a known golf enthusiast, was clearly pleased by the golfers' attendance. In fact, they received almost as much attention during the meeting as Ramaphosa himself. The South African president kept his remarks measured and brief, allowing the golfers and other delegation members to deflect some of Trump's pressure.
At one point, Ramaphosa subtly pushed back, saying, "If there were a genocide against Afrikaner farmers, I doubt these three gentlemen would be here with me today". It was a quiet but pointed rebuttal to Trump's narrative.
Although Trump did not succeed in provoking an emotional reaction from Ramaphosa, the incident was far from meaningless. Trump's theatrical style of diplomacy is aimed not just at his guests, but at his American audience. Keeping his base energised with stories of perceived injustice and threats abroad is a key part of his "Make America Great Again" platform.
If other foreign leaders learn to navigate these high-stakes meetings with calm and strategy as Ramaphosa did, Trump may eventually need to adapt his approach to maintain the same dramatic effect.