South Africans praise Ramaphosa for keeping cool amid Trump attack

U.S. President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

JOHANNESBURG -South Africans praised President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday for keeping his cool amid U.S. President Donald Trump's false claims of a white genocide in their country, but wondered why their leader had made the trip to Washington.

Ramaphosa had hoped his talks with Trump in the White House on Wednesday would help reset relations with the United States that have nosedived since the U.S. president took office in January.