CNN accuses Trump of spreading 'debunked conspiracy theories' during Oval Office confrontation with South Africa's president

CNN criticized President Donald Trump’s meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling the interaction an “ambush” after Trump presented evidence of the persecution and killing of white South Africans. 

The meeting, held on Wednesday at the White House, drew attention when Trump showed Ramaphosa a video containing violent political chants and statements by officials against Afrikaners, as well as footage of burial sites of white farmers.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the alleged genocide of whites in South Africa, Trump said, “we have thousands of stories talking about it. We have documentaries, we have news stories,” before playing video clips that included chants of “kill the Boer” and statements such as “killing is part of a revolution.” Trump also cited reports of burial sites with over 1,000 white farmers and South Africans fleeing violence.

CNN correspondent Larry Madowo reacted to the meeting, calling it a “multi-media ambush.” On air, Madowo claimed that Trump presented a “laundry list of debunked conspiracy theories.” He also dismissed Trump’s evidence as “AfriForum propaganda,” referring to a white Afrikaner lobby group that he labeled a “white nationalist” organization.

“Almost everything that President Trump said in the Oval Office is not true, is inaccurate, has been repeatedly debunked,” Madowo further claimed.

During the White House meeting, Trump also flipped through a stack of printed articles, saying, "These are articles over the last few days, death of people, death, death, death, horrible death, death." He added, "When you look at the videos, I mean, how does it get worse? And these are people that are officials, and they’re saying that, 'kill the white farmer and take their land.' And I have other friends in South Africa, people that left, one in particular that says you can’t go there. He said they will want to take your land. They take your land and they kill you.”

Ramaphosa responded by saying such rhetoric is “not government policy” and is not endorsed by the South African government. He further said that people are allowed to "express themselves," and political parties can "adhere to various policies."