U.S. President Trump's Stance On South Africa's Expropriation Bill Sparks Diplomatic Tensions

Holifil

31 Mar, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared his decision to cut all funding to South Africa following the passage of the Expropriation Bill.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the new Bill into law on January 23, 2025, amid mixed reactions from the public.
In response to Trump's announcement, Ramaphosa retorted, urging the U.S. leader to refrain from interfering in South Africa's internal affairs.

President Cyril Ramaphosa responds to U.S. President Donald Trump after the latter announced the suspension of funding to South Africa amid the Expropriation Bill. Images: Chip Somodevilla, Ludovic Marin. Source: Getty Images

WASHINGTON D.C. — Just days after reversing his earlier decision to cut HIV treatment funding, U.S. President Donald Trump has made yet another bold and controversial declaration, this time targeting South Africa. And let me tell you, it’s a move that’s raising eyebrows all over the globe. This isn't just about numbers or policies; it's about a clash of ideologies and national sovereignty.

Trump's uncompromising stance sparked an immediate reaction from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who wasted no time in defending his country's right to determine its own path forward.

Trump Declares Cuts to All Aid for South Africa

So, what led us here? It all started nearly two weeks ago when President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the Expropriation Bill into law. This legislation, while aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting equitable land distribution, has stirred up intense debate both domestically and internationally. The bill allows the South African government to acquire private property for public use, provided the process is fair and compensation is reasonable.

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The law clearly outlines that property cannot be taken arbitrarily or for reasons unrelated to the public good. It mandates that the state must first attempt to negotiate with property owners, making reasonable offers before resorting to expropriation. This approach is intended to ensure a balance between justice and fairness, though it has been met with skepticism from some quarters.

Originally, there were discussions about expropriating land without any compensation, but the final version of the bill reflects a more measured approach. Nevertheless, after Ramaphosa's signature on January 23, 2025, Western media outlets began describing the law as a "controversial land seizure" policy.

On February 2, 2025, Trump took to his platform @TrumpDailyPosts on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a statement from his Truth Social account. In his post, Trump voiced strong disapproval, saying:

"South Africa is confiscating land and mistreating certain classes. It's a bad situation that the Radical Left media doesn't even want to acknowledge. A massive human rights violation is unfolding right before our eyes. The U.S. will not stand idly by; we will take action."

"Additionally, I will cut off all future funding to South Africa until a thorough investigation into this matter is completed!"

During a subsequent television interview, captured in a video shared online by user @gerrievanzyl, Trump elaborated on his decision to cut aid specifically to South Africa. When asked if he planned similar actions against other African nations, Trump replied:

"No, it's only South Africa; terrible things are happening there. The leadership is engaging in some truly atrocious actions. We're investigating this right now. Until we understand what South Africa is doing—taking away land, confiscating it—I suspect there may be far worse things happening!"

You can watch the full X video below for more context on Trump's statements.

Trump’s remarks did not go unchallenged. A video of Ramaphosa quickly emerged, where he fired back at the U.S. President, asserting that Trump had no business meddling in South Africa's internal matters.

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"I don’t know what Donald Trump has to do with South African land since he’s never even been here. He should focus on his own country, and we’ll handle ours. This land belongs to all the people who live here, not Donald Trump. He can keep his America. When I meet him, I’ll tell him, 'You, Donald Trump, your ancestors came to America, found the indigenous people, and wiped them out.' We’re a nation living together, Black and white, and we’ll find our own solutions to our land issues. So, Donald Trump needs to leave us alone!"

For a more comprehensive look at Ramaphosa's response, check out the rest of the X video below.

Ramaphosa Congratulates Trump on Election Victory

A Previous Gesture of Diplomacy

In a previous development, Ramaphosa was among the global leaders who extended congratulations to Trump following his re-election victory on November 6, 2024. Despite the current tensions, Ramaphosa expressed optimism about strengthening ties between the two nations as South Africa prepares to assume the presidency of the G20 in 2025.

At the time, Ramaphosa raised a glass in a symbolic gesture, expressing his hopes for a fruitful partnership. “I look forward to working closely with President Trump to enhance our bilateral relations and address shared global challenges,” he stated.