Trump, South African president talk to pro golf greats about country

Just a few high-profile South African golfers had been thrown into the White Home in a tense trade on Wednesday.

Ernie Els and Retief Goosen joined Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, for a gathering within the Oval Workplace with President Donald Trump.

Whereas the assembly between the 2 leaders achieved a heat begin, the scope of the assembly took a noticeable flip when Trump confronted Ramaphosa with a video that reportedly confirmed a severe therapy of white farmers. Trump additionally offered Ramaphosa with paperwork that he claimed had been stories of murders on “hundreds” Afrikaners.

Ramaphosa supplied a number of denials to the claims and made it clear that the statements within the movies weren’t consultant of his authorities’s coverage. Els and Ganen had been then introduced into the dialogue.

Click on right here for extra sports activities reporting on Foxnews.com

President Donald Trump meets the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Wednesday 21 Might in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)

Trump welcomed the golfers as he launched the South African president.

“I actually respect that you’ve got come. It actually helps us in our pondering course of,” Trump mentioned. “Your two boys are improbable,” Trump added. “What a bunch of golfers South Africa has had.”

Jalen Hurts claims that he was ‘not accessible’ for the white home go to of Eagles

Els beforehand saved the world’s #1 golf rating. He offered his passport and mentioned that he was a “proud South African” earlier than he refers to “the Apartheid age” and known as on unity.

“I do know there was numerous anger due to the transition. Many issues occurred within the apartheid days,” he mentioned. “We grew within the apartheid period, however I do not suppose two errors make a proper.”

Retief Goosen Thaes off a traditional within the first spherical of the Galleri Basic at Mission Hills Nation Membership in Rancho Mirage, California, March 28, 2025. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Solar/USA At present Community through Imagn Photographs)

Els added that he wished to attend the assembly and hoped it might be helpful for his nation.

“We actually wished to satisfy you, meet the administration and see our means ahead, as a result of we nonetheless wish to see our nation flourish,” Els added.

Goosen, a double US Open winner, was requested concerning the farms in South Africa.

“My father was each a possession developer and a part-time farmer, and sure, a few of his buddy farmers have been killed. The farm continues to be going. My brothers run it, however it’s a fixed battle with farms.

Goosen mentioned that his relations who lived on farms had electrical fences and lived for concern of crime.

“They’ve left electrical fences, you recognize, attempt to be protected at evening. However it’s fixed if you go away that one thing can occur. … Each have been attacked of their homes. My mom was attacked in our home when she was 80. It is tough. However the boys reside an excellent life regardless of every part that is happening.”

Golfers Retief Goosen and Ernie Els are within the Oval Workplace throughout a gathering between President Donald Trump and the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa within the White Home in Washington, DC, 21 Might 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

See also  California faces $18 billion budget deficit amid structural crisis

Click on right here to get the Fox Information app

Els and Goosen are nicely aware of the sitting US president. Previous to Trump’s first time period, he posted a photograph on social media of himself and Els.

“Ernie Els and myself at Trump Nationwide Doral,” he wrote the 2013 Facebook message.

Trump is an avid golfer. His actual property portfolio additionally consists of golf programs.

Greg Norman ‘Greg Norman has contributed to this report.

Observe Fox Information Digital’s Sports reporting on Xand subscribe to The Fox Information Sports activities Huddle -Publication.