Pretoria | June, 2025 – AfricaHeadline
As world leaders gather in Kananaskis, Canada for the G7 Summit kicking off this Monday, one bilateral meeting is drawing unusual attention: the second face-to-face between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, just weeks after a turbulent and mismanaged encounter at the White House.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com
That first meeting, held in the Oval Office less than a month ago, was marred by tension and controversy. South African officials described it as a diplomatic ambush, with Trump veering sharply off script, raising heated concerns around land reform, immigration, and trade in a tone some diplomats privately called “provocative and disrespectful.”
The encounter, which went viral for its awkward silences and side-eye glances, has become a symbolic low point in U.S.-Africa engagement.
Now, the two leaders are set to meet again, this time on neutral ground, and under very different circumstances.
This second meeting at the G7 Summit marks not only a diplomatic reset, but also the first major public re-engagement since the White House incident was further overshadowed by the sudden health scare involving Elon Musk, who reportedly collapsed during an unscheduled briefing with Trump on Africa’s mineral supply chain.
The tech billionaire’s dramatic episode, confirmed later as “stress-induced exhaustion”, interrupted the already fragile meeting, compounding the confusion and awkwardness of the day.
For many observers, Musk’s presence in the Oval Office during a high-level diplomatic meeting was itself a point of contention, perceived as an effort by Trump to steer the narrative toward business interests rather than state-level diplomacy.
South African officials were caught off guard by Musk’s unexpected involvement, raising questions about whether Ramaphosa had been invited to discuss foreign policy or to provide validation for corporate mining ambitions.
Speaking from Pretoria ahead of the summit, President Ramaphosa confirmed the G7 sideline meeting, stating, “We had a first meeting at the White House under very complicated circumstances. This time, we are going to engage with clarity, purpose, and mutual respect.” He emphasized his intention to “reset relations with the White House” and push for more constructive engagement on trade, security, and climate cooperation.
The geopolitical backdrop, however, is more complicated than ever. U.S.-Africa relations remain strained following Trump’s renewed travel bans affecting several African nations, tariffs on key agricultural exports, and ongoing frictions with the African Union. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa continues to position South Africa, and by extension the continent, as a vital partner in multilateral cooperation, from BRICS and the AU to its current chairmanship of the G20.
While critics on social media mock Ramaphosa’s decision to meet Trump again, some referencing the “Oval Office ambush” and Musk’s theatrical exit, others view the effort as pragmatic leadership in a complex global environment.
Analysts believe this second encounter could be a crucial turning point for U.S.-Africa ties. “The handshake matters,” said one Pretoria-based diplomat. “Ramaphosa isn’t just representing South Africa, he’s trying to shift the tone of Western engagement with the entire continent.”
The meeting may not produce immediate policy shifts, but it underscores a new diplomatic reality: African leaders are no longer passive participants in global affairs. They are now active players redefining the terms of engagement, even in uncomfortable rooms.
Whether Trump listens this time, or whether another surprise appearance throws the meeting off course, remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this second handshake will be watched more closely than the first.
