President Donald Trump clashed with NBC News reporter Peter Alexander during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, after being pressed about a $400 million Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar for temporary presidential use.
The moment turned tense when Alexander brought up the aircraft, prompting Trump to lash out, calling him a “terrible reporter” and accusing the media of fixating on irrelevant topics. Trump redirected attention to his concerns over violence in South Africa, claiming white farmers were being targeted—a claim South African officials have strongly denied.
Earlier in the meeting, Trump had shown Ramaphosa a video intended to support these allegations. Ramaphosa responded by stating that crime in South Africa affects people of all races and rejected the notion of a racially driven campaign.
Despite the friction, the meeting concluded on a lighter note when Ramaphosa joked that he hadn’t brought a jet with him. Trump replied that he’d be happy to accept one in the future.
The exchange highlighted the ongoing tension between Trump and mainstream media, while also underscoring sensitive issues in U.S.-South Africa diplomatic dialogue.