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From The Hill

Opinion - The racist ideology behind Afrikaners’ red carpet treatment

Snopes debunks tRump's "white genocide" conspiracy theory.

Arlene Dickinson - is a South African and Canadian businesswoman, investor, author, and television personality. She is the general partner of District Ventures Capital and CEO of Venturepark.

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I was born in South Africa. I became Canadian when I was very young, but I still have family there. Watching Donald Trump ambush President Ramaphosa in the Oval Office last week with lies about “white genocide” was really upsetting to me.

There is no white genocide in South Africa. Trump’s claim is dangerous, false, and rooted in racist fear-mongering, something he keeps getting away with. Crime in South Africa exists and affects everyone, but especially Black communities. Land reform is a constitutional process, not a violent land grab. Trump used images and misinformation to paint a distorted and dishonest picture. He wasn’t trying to help anyone but himself and trying to do what he always does which is appeal to his base and use bully tactics to gain leverage in negotiations. It was brutal to watch.

He disrespected a country and stirred racist division to serve his own political narrative and to gain the upper hand. And because the stakes are so high, world leaders of course feel they have to stay diplomatic, even when the truth is being twisted right there in front of them. No one wants to become a White House scapegoat for reacting to Trump and give him any reason to punch back with tariffs or other harm to their nation. We’ve seen how quickly people like Zelensky got blamed for standing up, even when they should and have every right to.

President Ramaphosa did stay calm and dignified, while he was clearly being blindsided. But I wish more media and other leaders had said then, and since then, that what was said by Trump isn’t true.

Facts matter. Respect matters. And when powerful leaders twist reality to win, they don’t just harm one country they erode trust everywhere. Why do we keep letting it go unchecked? Why aren’t more media voices braver? I think it’s because they’re afraid, because he does this to them too. He embarrasses good reporters, dodges accountability, and strips people of respect as a tactic. It’s bullying 101 and sadly there’s always people who will follow bullies in order to be part of their circle of power.

I don’t know the answer. But I do know this. When we let disinformation lead, we all end up following something wholly unworthy of us.