“Mugabe would not have disappointed” – Africans react to Trump ambushing Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office
There has been a storm of reactions across Africa after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was seemingly ambushed by former US President Donald Trump during a tense meeting at the White House on Thursday. Trump, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, dominated the conversation, frequently interrupting Ramaphosa and making pointed claims about alleged “white genocide” in South Africa.
Many Africans felt that Ramaphosa was cornered and disrespected—but some say former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe would have handled the situation differently.
“If it was Uncle Bob in there, he wld have come back with his pride intact and a plane load of sanctions,” wrote Freeman Chari. “Trump wld have needed an Oxford dictionary… Bla Ramaphosa understood that he needed to save his country even if it came with personal humiliation. The choice leaders make.”
- Also Read: Gayton McKenzie Praises Johann Rupert for Defending South Africa During Trump-Ramaphosa Meeting
“He would have had Trump for breakfast”
The diplomatic encounter, held on 21 May 2025, has been trending on African Twitter, with many weighing in on Ramaphosa’s calm demeanour under pressure.
“Uncle Bob would have had Trump for breakfast,” posted @Pa_Zed.
“We’ve lost leaders.”
Another user, @Sir_Blanka, laughed:
“A plane load of sanctions.”
Political analyst Glen Mpani echoed the sentiment:
“You can say that again. Mugabe would not have disappointed.”
@marvinshikuambi defended Mugabe’s defiance of Western powers, tweeting:
“It is nonsensical for one country to bully everyone else. Mugabe would’ve been right in defying Trump. The US is only 300 years old. Many cultures have been around longer.”
Others believe Ramaphosa played the long game. His refusal to engage in verbal warfare, they say, was strategic.
“Good soldier knows when to pick a fight,” tweeted @thee_munashe.
“Ramaphosa probably humiliated but understood the assignment. Something which Bob failed to do countless times.”
A matter of ego vs. diplomacy
@proftheroi commented:
“Some choose their egos, while the cream like Ramaphosa looked at the bigger picture. Lose your ego while saving the nation.”
Blasious Mashatisa shared a reflection from his working days in Zimbabwe:
“One lesson I learned was to never engage in a battle of wits with a customer. You might win the argument but lose the customer. Ramaphosa, like Mandela, did what was best for the country, not himself.”
Others took a more humorous approach. @Andrew09231610 joked:
“Mugabe never had the wisdom to read the room. I heard he even behaved that way as a toddler – when he was served unfairly, he refused the sadza.”
@BantuPower, meanwhile, remained adamant that Mugabe’s legacy of resistance should not be forgotten:
“Robert Mugabe knew how to handle international politics even though standing for the truth led to the punishment of Zimbabwe through economic sanctions. Yesterday Africans were humiliated at the White House trying to squash false info about white genocide.”
“The choice leaders make”
Despite the backlash, some have praised Ramaphosa’s restraint as the mark of a leader who prioritised his nation over pride.
“Sensible leaders know when to fight and when to disarm,” said @psithole.
“He did very well.”
Freeman Chari’s viral tweet summed it up:
“Bla Ramaphosa understood that he needed to save his country even if it came with personal humiliation.”
The White House meeting may be over, but the debate is still raging—was Ramaphosa wise, or should he have pushed back like “Uncle Bob” once would have?
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The post “Mugabe Would Not Have Disappointed” – Cyril Ramaphosa Criticised For Being Too Diplomatic With Trump appeared first on iHarare News.
