U.S. President Donald Trump met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House for bilateral talks that touched on trade, regional cooperation, and a controversial topic: alleged attacks on white South African farmers.

According to officials present at the meeting, President Trump expressed concern over what he referred to as violence targeting white farmers in South Africa a topic that has sparked debate and criticism internationally. He questioned whether the South African government was doing enough to protect all of its citizens, citing reports he said suggest the issue is being downplayed.

In response, President Ramaphosa rejected the characterization of the situation as genocide and urged Trump to consider the broader South African context. He emphasized the importance of engaging with accurate information and the views of South Africans themselves.

“This is a sensitive domestic issue,” Ramaphosa said, according to a South African government statement. “We believe such matters are best addressed through dialogue and mutual respect not through public alarmism.”

The South African government has repeatedly denied that white farmers are being targeted as part of any coordinated campaign, stating that rural crime affects communities across all racial lines.

While trade was also on the agenda, the discussion around farm violence has sparked renewed global attention on land reform, security, and race relations in South Africa.