When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stepped into a dimly lit conference room in Cape Town this week, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
The moment reminded him of something bizarre that happened during his recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump—and he was more than willing to share the story with the crowd.
A Strange Welcome at the White House
Last week, Ramaphosa had what many described as a tense and awkward meeting with Donald Trump in the White House.
The conversation between the two leaders reportedly included some deeply controversial topics, such as so-called “white genocide,” farm attacks, and South Africa’s land reform laws—issues Trump has publicly spoken about in the past with inflammatory language.
But it wasn’t just the subjects on the table that were intense.
According to Ramaphosa, the atmosphere got weird—fast.
He recalled how Trump suddenly ordered the lights to be turned off in the room while a video clip about violence in South Africa played in the background.
“It’s Happening Again!” Ramaphosa Jokes
Speaking to delegates at the infrastructure conference, Ramaphosa shared the surreal moment with a grin.
“When I walked in, the room started going dark,” he joked.
“For a second, I thought—what is this? It’s happening to me again!”
He explained that he was just getting into a rhythm during his interaction with Trump when the lights went down without warning.
“I hear him say, ‘Dim the lights.’ People said, ‘You were ambushed!’ and honestly, I was thinking—what on Earth is going on?”
A Lighthearted Take on a Heavy Exchange
Despite how loaded the conversation was, Ramaphosa appeared to take the incident in stride, treating it more like a bizarre anecdote than a political attack.
The president’s relaxed storytelling stood in contrast to the serious nature of the topics discussed behind closed doors in Washington.
Back Home, Things Got Heated in Parliament
But the light-hearted mood didn’t last long. Later that day, while addressing the National Assembly, Ramaphosa faced a very different kind of interruption—this time from opposition MPs in his own country.
Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) repeatedly halted his speech, prompting the president to express his frustration.
“I feel abused,” Ramaphosa said in response to the constant heckling. “I honestly feel abused.”
EFF Fires Back Over Trump Meeting
The EFF wasn’t having it. Spokesperson Sinawo Tambo fired back sharply: “You didn’t feel abused when Trump was abusing you in the White House.
Why do you feel abused now, when it’s your own people challenging you?”
The exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions Ramaphosa faces—not just on the global stage, but also at home, where criticism over his leadership and foreign diplomacy remains fierce.