Trump opened the meeting with discussions of trade relations but swiftly shifted focus to controversial claims of a “genocide” against white South Africans, drawing on sensational video footage presented without context or verification. The South African President remained diplomatic, arguing that violence impacts all communities, and pointed out the presence of white members honored in his delegation to illustrate a more complex racial reality in the nation.

The dialogue became increasingly heated when Ramaphosa was pressed by Trump to justify the safety of farmers in rural areas, yet he upheld the multiplicity of the democratic discourse within South Africa. Ramaphosa stressed that criminality is an issue affecting all South Africans, not exclusively white farmers, and made appeals to Hir perspective of reconciliation and economic cooperation. As the two leaders navigated this fraught topic, Ramaphosa attempted to maintain a posture of calm amidst Trump's assertive questioning about land reform and racial tensions, reflecting the complicated relationships formed between the two nations in recent months.