The Oval Office is about to host a high-stakes meeting.  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is stepping onto the familiar turf of the Oval Office. This is the first time he will be meeting with the US President since he returned from a trip to the Middle East.  This meeting is a big deal because the relationship between the two countries has been rocky.

The US President has a history of trying to control these meetings.  He has often put visitors in awkward spots.  They have had to correct him on things he got wrong.  It is a tough job.  The US President does not like being challenged.  This meeting is extra tricky because of the bad blood between the two countries.

There have been some serious issues.  The US President recently let in a group of Afrikaners.  He called them victims of a genocide.  Ramaphosa is sure to push back on this.  Plus, there has been a lot of tension in the diplomatic world.  In March, South Africa's ambassador to the US was kicked out.  The Secretary of State called him a "race-baiting politician who hates America".  The ambassador later said it was clear there was racism in the Trump administration.

The stakes are high for Ramaphosa.  If he plays his cards right, he might ease some of the tension.  But if things go south, it could get ugly.  He will likely be thinking about the public spat the US President had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February.  It is a delicate situation.  The world will be watching to see how this plays out.

The US President has a history of being tough on his visitors.  He has often put them in awkward spots.  They have had to correct him on things he got wrong.  It is a tough job.  The US President does not like being challenged.  This meeting is extra tricky because of the bad blood between the two countries.  The stakes are high for Ramaphosa.  If he plays his cards right, he might ease some of the tension.  But if things go south, it could get ugly.  He will likely be thinking about the public spat the US President had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February.  It is a delicate situation.  The world will be watching to see how this plays out.

AFRIKANERS IN US

A Test of Diplomacy in the Oval Office

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