Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- The media interview between United States of America President Donald Trump and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, was filled with tension.

On Wednesday, May 21, Trump and Ramaphosa held a roundtable interview at the Oval Office addressing the growing tension between the two countries.

The South African president had indicated that he was in the US to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.

However, their televised interview turned dramatic following a highly choreographed onslaught of accusations from the US president about the alleged persecution of white South Africans.

The most dramatic part of the scene was when Trump called for lights to be dimmed and screened a four-and-a-half-minute montage claiming to show evidence of a white genocide.

The video captured Julius Malema, the vocal South African opposition leader, singing 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' as a crowd chanted along.

As the clip played, President Trump questioned Ramaphosa why he had not arrested Malema for allegedly calling for the killing of white settlers.

However, Ramaphosa remained calm as Trump’s multimedia ambush unfolded in front of the world’s press.

Taking to social media, Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, cheekily chided the two presidents for making him the point of their bilateral discussion.

"A group of older men meet in Washington to gossip about me. No significant amount of intelligence evidence has been produced about white genocide. We will not agree to compromise our political principles on land expropriation without compensation for political expediency," Malema said.

A different clip displayed white crosses lined along a roadside, said to be a tribute to white farmers who had been killed.

Ramaphosa appeared puzzled and responded, “I’d like to know where that is, because I’ve never seen this before.”

President Ramaphosa arrived late on Monday, May 19, for the high-stakes diplomatic visit, joined by four cabinet ministers.

Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated significantly since January, when Donald Trump took office.

Notably, his administration includes South African-born Elon Musk, who heads the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency.”

Ramaphosa’s visit is widely viewed as a move to mend strained ties between the two nations.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen emphasised that one of the main goals was to secure trade agreements that would help “protect jobs, grow the economy, and expand employment opportunities.”

Accompanying Ramaphosa were the ministers responsible for international relations, trade, and agriculture, as well as his special envoy to the U.S., Mcebisi Jonas. The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, after China

Source: TUKO.co.ke