Trevor Noah, the globally known comedian from Soweto, couldn’t resist poking fun at some of the wild claims about South Africa that have been making the rounds—particularly the idea of a “white genocide” driving an exodus of South Africans to the US.

He tackled the topic with his signature wit during a recent episode of his Spotify podcast, What, Now?, alongside good friends Anele Mdoda and Sizwe Dhlomo.

Friends Catch Up, Play Games, and Laugh at the Refugee Debate

The trio kicked off the episode by catching up on life updates—Anele’s recent engagement and wedding plans, and Sizwe’s thoughts about settling down.

Naturally, the conversation veered into lighthearted territory as they played a game called “If I ruled the world,” where they imagined all kinds of silly “what if” scenarios.

It was during this game that Trevor couldn’t help but mock the claims of persecution by some white South Africans who have fled to the US.

Trevor’s Take on the New Definition of Refugees

With his usual sharp humor, Trevor said, “South Africans have changed the definition of refugees.

Because before this, refugees only went to another country because they had to.”

He went on to joke that while normal refugees travel with “baggage,” these new “refugees” are traveling with “luggage” — implying their departures are more like vacations than escapes.

Not stopping there, Trevor also teased about his own mixed heritage, quipping, “There is a white genocide in this country.

I’m half white. I had to choose!”

Splitting Time Between South Africa and the US

Trevor Noah officially became a naturalized US citizen in 2020 but still holds South Africa close to his heart.

Since moving to America in 2015 to host The Daily Show, he has made his home in the US while regularly returning to South Africa to visit family and friends.

His unique position gives him a playful perspective on the claims about South African refugees, which he doesn’t take too seriously but uses to keep the conversation fun and relatable.