 "Why is Trump giving refuge to White South Africans? The real story")
United States President Donald Trump has opened the door to White South Africans — particularly members of the Afrikaner minority — seeking asylum in the US, citing claims of racial discrimination and violence in South Africa.
The decision has come under intense scrutiny, especially as the Trump administration has otherwise maintained a hardline stance against most other refugee groups.
On Monday, the first group of 49 Afrikaners landed at Washington Dulles International Airport after departing from Johannesburg, marking the beginning of what the administration says is a humanitarian programme aimed at helping those “discriminated against by their government.”
Despite a broad freeze on refugee admissions from most parts of the world, this specific group is being fast-tracked for entry and resettlement across ten US states.
“I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years,” US Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau told the arrivals, according to the Associated Press. “We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years.”
What Trump alleges happens to White farmers in South Africa
In February, Trump signed an executive order directing that Afrikaners in South Africa be prioritised for refugee resettlement in the US, citing allegations of systemic bias and targeted violence.
The order accused the South African government of “dismantling equal opportunity in employment, education, and business,” and said its actions were “fuelling disproportionate violence against racially disfavoured landowners.”
Trump defended the programme on Monday, saying: “I don’t care about their race, their colour, I don’t care about their height, their weight, I don’t care about anything, I just know that what’s happening is terrible,” while noting they “happen to be White.”
He added, “White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated,” describing the situation as “a genocide.”
The South African government has repeatedly denied these claims. “There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of White South Africans or White Afrikaners in particular,” said South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.
He stated that “White farmers get affected by crime just like any other South Africans.”
What is behind this move by Trump
South Africa’s land reform has been central to the Trump administration’s criticism. The Expropriation Act, passed in January , allows the government to redistribute land without compensation under certain conditions, aiming to address land ownership disparities stemming from apartheid.
The South African government maintains the legislation is constitutionally guided and has not yet resulted in any actual land seizures. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote on X at the time that it is a “legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.”
South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 3, 2025
The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal…
Still, Trump’s order called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to “prioritise humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement … for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
The White House contends that farm attacks — though relatively rare — are racially motivated. Refugee supporters point to violent robberies and assaults on White farm owners in rural parts of South Africa as evidence of ongoing persecution.
However, data from South African farming organisations indicates there have been around 50 or fewer farm homicides annually in recent years, a small fraction of the country’s broader crime problem, which saw over 20,000 homicides across all racial groups last year.
Why this move by Trump contradicts his refugee policy
The Afrikaner admissions stand in contrast to the administration's otherwise hardline stance on immigration . On his first day back in office, Trump suspended nearly all refugee admissions, directing that entries only resume once it could be determined that they align with national interests.
His executive order pointed out that refugee admissions must be limited to individuals who can “fully and appropriately assimilate into” American society, citing national security and resource constraints.
In practice, this has meant shutting down refugee applications from much of sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq and other regions experiencing conflict.
This selective approach has sparked criticism and legal action from refugee organisations, which argue the policy is discriminatory and impedes their ability to assist vulnerable populations.
When asked about the exception for Afrikaners, US Deputy Secretary Landau said, “Some of the criteria (to allow people in) are making sure that refugees did not pose any challenge to our national security and that they could be assimilated easily into our country.”
He added that the Afrikaners admitted had been “carefully vetted pursuant to our refugee standards.”
How South Africa has responded to Trump’s move
The South African government responded with concern to Trump’s statements and policies. In February, it called the claims “of great concern” and lacking in “factual accuracy.”
The move was also criticised as ironic given that Afrikaners are “amongst the most economically privileged” in South Africa, while the US continues to deny asylum to “vulnerable people … from other parts of the world.”
South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled in March following his accusation that Trump was using “White victimhood as a dog whistle.” The US retaliated by accusing Rasool of “race-baiting.”
The dispute between the two governments has also deepened due to South Africa’s position on other international issues.
The US criticised South Africa for its stance at the International Court of Justice, where it has accused Israel of genocide in its war against Palestinians — allegations Israel strongly denies.
How Trump’s preferential resettlement has sparked backlash
The Trump administration’s decision to offer refuge to Afrikaners has sparked debate among religious and civil society groups.
The Episcopal Church announced that it would terminate its refugee resettlement contracts with the US government by year’s end, citing concerns about racial preference.
In a public statement, presiding Bishop Rev. Sean W. Rowe said the church could not support the administration’s demand to resettle Afrikaners, citing “the church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.”
Sharing the letter written by Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Sean Rowe declining to assist the federal government in resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) May 13, 2025
He explains in the letter that is has been highly painful to watch a group of refugees, selected in a… pic.twitter.com/YNuoWnN2ig
He added, “It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.”
Who are the Afrikaners?
Afrikaners are descendants primarily of Dutch, French and German settlers who arrived in South Africa during the 17th century.
They speak Afrikaans, a language recognised as one of South Africa’s 11 official languages. Afrikaners make up roughly 2.7 to 3 million of South Africa’s 62 million population and were historically the political and social leaders of the apartheid regime, which enforced racial segregation until it ended in 1994.
Although apartheid has been dismantled for more than three decades, many Afrikaners continue to live in rural farming communities and hold significant economic power. Some allege that they now face “reverse discrimination” due to affirmative action laws and land reform policies.
Still, experts and South African officials insist the group does not face state-sponsored persecution. “Afrikaners are among the richest and most successful people in the country,” the South African government stated. “They are amongst the most economically privileged.”
Will the programme be expanded to other South African minorities?
Initially, the US refugee policy targeted only those of Afrikaner descent. However, new guidelines released by the US Embassy suggest that individuals “of Afrikaner ethnicity or [who] are members of a racial minority in South Africa” may now apply.
These minorities include people of Indian, South Asian and biracial heritage, totalling millions of South Africans.
While it is unclear how many have applied under this expanded definition, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the administration “would welcome more Afrikaners as refugees in the coming months.”
Is Elon Musk part of the Afrikaner community?
Two key figures in Trump’s inner circle — Elon Musk and David Sacks — are South African by birth . Musk, who has become one of Trump’s most influential advisers following major campaign donations, has publicly stated that he is not of Afrikaner background.
Neither is David Sacks, a PayPal co-founder and Trump’s point person on cryptocurrency and AI.
Meanwhile, Trump suggested that South African leaders were expected to meet him in Washington soon, but cast doubt on the meeting occurring unless “that situation’s taken care of.”
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