Trump's Oval Office is a danger zone for world leaders
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa watches as President Trump displays news printouts purporting to show victims of violence against white farmers. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa got the Zelensky treatment while meeting President Trump Wednesday, with added special effects.
The big picture: Visiting the White House is no longer just a coveted opportunity to earn goodwill with the president and credibility back home. Under Trump 2.0, it carries the risk of a presidential ambush.
- The visit immediately evoked the disastrous Feb. 28 meeting in which Trump and Vice President Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, shocking the world and setting a precedent.
- Even leaders who avoid a public flogging face prolonged and unpredictable on-camera spectacles, with Trump taking questions from a mix of mainstream and MAGA media and holding the floor for up to an hour.
- Trump's premeditated humiliation of Ramaphosa is likely to be on the minds of other leaders before they make plans to visit Washington.
Driving the news: Ramaphosa came to D.C. in need of an urgent reset.
- On the basis of disputed claims of "white genocide" pushed by Elon Musk and others in his orbit, Trump cut off aid to South Africa, expelled South Africa's ambassador, and fast-tracked white South Africans for refugee status.
- Ramaphosa made clear that he hoped to reassure Trump on that topic and pivot to trade, with South Africa desperate to escape tariffs and renew a U.S.-Africa trade deal. Perhaps anticipating a Zelensky scenario, he brought South African golfing legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen to try to keep things friendly.
- Ramaphosa may not have been reassured to see Musk in attendance, but the meeting started amicably enough. He lavished praise on Trump, while Trump described the South African president as well-respected "in some circles."
About 20 minutes in, after Ramaphosa said "listening to the stories" of South Africans would help Trump better understand the situation, Trump sprung his trap.
- "Mr. President, I must say that we have thousands of stories... we have documentaries, we have news stories. Is Natalie here?" Trump said, turning to his staff with an apparent reference to aide Natalie Harp.
- "I could show you a couple things, and it has to be responded to," Trump told Ramaphosa, whose eyes suddenly went wide before he shared a bemused laugh with his staff.
- "Turn the lights down and just put this on," Trump said.
The lights went down, and the video began. "Kill... the.. white farmer."
- Trump subjected Ramaphosa to a five-minute compilation involving incitement against whites by extremist politicians whom Ramophosa opposes, before flipping through a stack of news printouts describing such attacks.
The cameras kept rolling for another half hour, with Ramaphosa remaining determinedly upbeat and Trump firmly in control.
- Unlike Zelensky, Ramaphosa was not ejected from the Oval.
- When the press was finally ushered out, Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump officially began.
- By then, all the headlines had already been written.
Zoom out: There are still potential upsides to visiting Trump's White House.
- Several leaders, most recently Canada's Mark Carney, have managed to hold their own or score minor wins.
- El Salvador's Nayib Bukele seemed to enjoy guest starring in the Trump show, while French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried a mix of flattery and persuasion to influence Trump on trade and Ukraine.
- But while one Oval Office disaster could be a fluke, two is starting to look like a trend.
The bottom line: If Trump invites you into his office, enter at your own risk.
