Elon Musk to attend White House meeting with Trump, Ramaphosa

Elon Musk to attend White House meeting with Trump, Ramaphosa

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions. The meeting comes just over a week after a group of 59 White South Africans arrived in the US after being granted refugee status [1]. The visit aims to address the strained relations between the two nations, which have been exacerbated by Trump's claims of "white genocide" in South Africa and his criticism of the country's land expropriation law [1].

Elon Musk, who was born and raised in South Africa, is expected to attend the meeting. Ramaphosa's office has indicated that the meeting will focus on bilateral, regional, and global issues of interest, including a potential licensing deal for Musk's Starlink satellite internet service [1]. This deal is seen as an effort to smooth over the rocky relationship between the two leaders before the meeting with Trump [2].

The meeting is considered a "make-or-break" moment for the strained ties between the US and South Africa. Analysts have warned that the talks could hit a brick wall if the White House makes costly demands, such as the retrieval of the Land Expropriation Act or the Gaza Case [1]. Ramaphosa's spokesperson has stated that the president will maintain his composure and address any misunderstandings regarding South Africa's policies [1].

The US is South Africa's second-largest trading partner, and the African nation benefits significantly from a US trade agreement that provides preferential duty-free access to US markets for eligible sub-Saharan African nations [1]. However, some US lawmakers have called for the withdrawal of these benefits when the trade agreement is reviewed this year [1].

The meeting is expected to be tense, given the contentious issues at stake and the history of heated discussions between Trump and other world leaders. Ramaphosa is likely to face a challenging task in maintaining South Africa's sovereignty while navigating the complex dynamics of the US-South Africa relationship [1].

References:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/africa/south-africas-ramaphosa-visits-trump-latam-intl
[2] https://newrepublic.com/post/195472/elon-musk-starlink-deal-south-africa-trump