Trump’s stance against South Africa is not just about white farmers. It’s also about Hamas and Iran

By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press CAPE TOWN South Africa AP U S President Donald Trump s claim this week that there is an unreported genocide happening against white farmers in South Africa was his harshest accusation yet against a country he moved to punish over a range of issues soon after returning to office Trump s criticism has focused mostly on his accusations that South Africa s regime is fueling anti-white racism in the majority Black country leading to the killing of white farmers That has been denied by the South African ruling body Young Afrikaner refugees from South Africa holding American flags arrive Monday May at Dulles International Airport in Dulles Va AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson But Trump has also strongly criticized South Africa s foreign program and especially its decision to take Israel to the United Nations top court and accuse it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza Trump has cited that affair against a U S ally as an example of what he referred to as a larger anti-American position from South Africa The U S president has now accused South Africa once a key partner in Africa of the same crime of genocide Israel and Hamas South Africa launched its highly contentious genocide development against Israel at the International Court of Justice in early putting a growing nation that s not a diplomatic heavyweight at the forefront of the pro-Palestinian movement at an especially divisive time South Africa s decision caused tensions with the U S under the Biden administration and other Western countries which rejected the accusation that Israel was committing genocide FILE South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the opening session of the G foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg South Africa Thursday Feb AP Photo Jerome Delay File But Trump s reaction has been much stronger citing the situation against Israel in an executive order on Feb that sanctioned South Africa and stopped all U S aid and assistance The order explained South Africa had taken aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies and the incident displayed its help for the Palestinian group Hamas which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U S the European Union the U K and others The U S executive under Trump has also cracked down on pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel protests at home South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people and a critic of Israel But while the executive has attempted to draw a line between that and any promotion for Hamas the distinctions have become blurred like when the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela hosted Hamas executives on a visit to South Africa in Ties with Iran Trump s executive order also accused South Africa of strengthening its ties with Iran through commercial military and nuclear arrangements South Africa holds diplomatic ties with Iran but announced it does not have any agreements with Iran over nuclear weapons though it is allowing Iran to bid alongside other countries for a commercial contract to build a nuclear reactor to provide electricity South Africa s Institute for Protection Studies a nonprofit research institute announced that Trump was overreacting to South Africa s relationship with Iran but South Africa also shouldn t be surprised if they are judged by the company they keep Boycotting South Africa s G presidency The U S has decided to effectively boycott South Africa s presidency of the Group of developed and progressing nations this year the first time an African nation has held the rotating presidency U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped a G foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg in February saying South Africa s theme of solidarity equality and sustainability was effectively DEI diversity equity and inclusion and surroundings change and he wouldn t waste American taxpayer money on it The Trump administration has moved to dismantle DEI programs in the U S Shortly after Rubio skipped the meeting the Trump administration suspended all cooperation with South Africa related to its hosting of G events according to a U S official The official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations declared the decision was because Trump does not encouragement South Africa s G agenda The official commented the move would not affect the U S s presidency of the G next year The rebuff by the U S will likely undermine South Africa s efforts to make progress on issues it has prioritized for its presidency White farmers The Trump administration brought more than white South Africans to the U S this week as refugees saying they are members of the minority Afrikaner group and are being persecuted by their Black-led cabinet and exposed to race-based violence Afrikaner refugees from South Africa holding American flags arrive Monday May at Dulles International Airport in Dulles Va AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson South Africa says it condemns the relatively small number of killings of white farmers but the cause is being mischaracterized and they are a impact of its problems with violent crime and not racially motivated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has not criticized Trump directly but disclosed the U S president is being fed false information by particular Afrikaner lobby groups in South Africa and particular conservative commentators in the U S who have elevated the issue Ramaphosa s office reported he will meet with Trump at the White House next week in an attempt to reset the countries relationship Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this story from Washington