Elon Musk’s reaction sends people wild during testy Trump showdown with South African president

By CHARLIE SPIERING, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, WASHINGTON, DC

Published: 19:55 BST, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 22:40 BST, 21 May 2025

Billionaire Elon Musk triggered a flood of attention on social media on Wednesday as he joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

The president confronted South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on the issue of the deaths of white farmers.

Musk did not speak during the event, as President Trump asked staff to dim the lights in the Oval Office as he played a video of EFF leader Julius Malema chanting ‘Shoot the Boer, Shoot the farmer.’ 

Trump also showcased a series of news clippings including a file from the Daily Mail about the horrific crimes committed against white African farmers.

Photos and videos of Musk staring intently at Ramaphosa as the president denied that the deaths of white farmers was racial genocide went viral on social media. 

‘I KID YOU NOT, Elon Musk is literally staring at the South African President like he wants to fight him,’ wrote one user on X, sharing video of Musk’s reaction to the meeting with Trump and Ramaphosa. 

Elon Musk looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office

Trump also showcased a series of news clippings including a file from the Daily Mail about the horrific crimes committed against white African farmers

The issue is important to Musk who has made a point of raising it on social media frequently with claims of White genocide in the country where he was born. 

Musk also criticized Ramaphosa in an interview on Tuesday, accusing him of ‘racist’ laws preventing him from operating his satellite internet service in the country because he was not black.  

‘Holy smokes. Elon Musk is staring straight into the soul of South Africa’s president,’ wrote MAGA influencer Benny Johnson. 

‘Yesterday, Elon torched the country’s racist laws and exposed that he’s unable to operate Starlink there for one reason: he’s not black.’

Musk also criticized Ramaphosa in an interview on Tuesday, accusing him of ‘racist’ laws

Elon Musk is BACK in the Oval Office, staring the President of South Africa in the eyes Reports about Elon straying away from the administration are FALSE. Elon has been VERY outspoken about the White genocide happening in South Africa,’ wrote Trump supporter Nick Sotor. 

‘Elon Musk gave the President of South Africa a stare that will haunt his dreams,’ wrote Paul A. Szypula on X.  

Trump acknowledged Musk’s presence in the Oval Office during the event, but indicated he was not trying to get him involved in the issue. 

‘Elon is from South Africa. I don’t want to get Elon involved. That’s all I have to do, get him into another thing,’ he chuckled lightly. 

‘This is what Elon wanted,’ he continued. ‘He came here on a different subject, sending rockets to Mars, he likes that subject better.’

Musk has tried to pivot away from politics to focus on his businesses, particularly on Tesla after it became a target for the left because of his work in DOGE.  

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Elon Musk’s reaction sends people wild during testy Trump showdown with South African president

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk