Pool Reports of May 21, 2025

In-town pool report 1: Flag bearer apparent fainting

Good morning, I'm your print pooler on this rainy, gray day. I have seen press reports of possible additions to today's schedule related to happenings on the Hill, but so far have not been advised of any. Watch your inboxes. 

We are awaiting the South African delegation arrival at the North Portico. 

One of the flag bearers awaiting the arrival seemed to faint backwards into the grass just a few moments ago, he has been roused and helped off to the side. 

More to come on the arrival we are still waiting for.

In-town pool report 2: Trump says bill "very close"

The South African delegation pulled up to the North Portico at 12:03 and Trump stepped out seconds beforehand.   

He answered two shouted questions as he welcomed the South African president. 

He said his big beautiful bill is doing "Very well … it's very close". 

As for the Pope's brother, he's a "Fantastic guy"

They walked inside the West Wing at 12:04. 

Pool report 3: Oval now

Pool is going into the Oval before lunch — we're being lined up now.

Pool report 4: inside Oval

Pool got into the Oval at 12:16 pm

There are video screens set up Behind staff but unclear if they'll be aired. 

I'm told the meeting is being streamed at White House channels so I will be focused more on color and less on exact quotes. 

Trump has kicked it off by saying the President of South Africa is really respected in some circles, not others. He is noting the golfers in attendance. 

Pool sees Pete Hegseth, JD Vance and I believe Howard Lutnick on the couch. 

Elon Musk is standing behind them.

Pool report 5: questions

After complimentary intros, Trump took questions:

On why he's accepting white refugees from Sotuh Africa, Trump disparaged NBC news for asking the question and then noted the southern border 

He said they accept people if there's something like genocide going on 

He said: White farmers are fleeing South Africa, I hope we can have a conversation about that 

Brian Glenn asked about Letitia James and her statement the allegations were a mistake

Trump said he's not involved in it but called it "major fraud … fraudulent everything"

Asked for his message to the African people: "I want to see peace," Trump said. 

South Africa's president jumped in to thank Trump for efforts to foster peace 

He ignored  shouted question about what would prove genocide is occurring. 

Meeting ongoing.

Pool report 6: Gaza/genocide questions / video playing

Asked by South African press about the international court case against Israel, Trump said:
"I don't expect anything to be honest … a lot of anger there, I don't expect anything … we'll have a ruling"

South African press asked about what it would take to convince him there's no white genocide in the country, the South African president jumped in as Trump cracked a joke about not wanting him to. 

"It will take president Trump listening to the voices of South Africa, some of him are his friends," the South African president said. 

Trump then called for the video to play. Playing now.

Pool report 7: Link to video

You should be able to be watching the meeting live. I will send some color and details later. 

This is from the White House, the link to the video Trump showed in the room:
https://x.com/whitehouse/status/1925232291220951370?s=46

In-town pool report 8: Observations from Oval

I did not note the exact time we were ushered out of the Oval. My recording of the meeting which I stopped and started roughly at the beginning and end lasted 1 hour and 2 minutes. 

Again, you should have been able to watch all the back-and-forth on the live stream if you wanted exact quotes. I tried to make note of things that perhaps you wouldn't be able to see on the camera feed. Here they all are:

(If anyone was not able to catch the stream or feed in other capacities, let me know and I can endeavor quotes for you.)

When Trump mentioned the work his administration is doing and his hope it can resolve the situation in India and Pakistan, he looked toward Elon Musk, who nodded in response.

As the video was playing, for much of it, President Ramaphosa was looking elsewhere, as were two of his delegation members who were seated on the couch to his right. At one point he appeared to glance toward Musk, who was intently watching the video with the rest of the American side. 

As the part played where Trump narrated that it was burial sites of "over 1,000 white farmers" and cars stopped to pay respects, President Ramaphosa and the delegation did look toward the video. One of the delegation members on the couch looked confused, furrowing his row. 

"They told you where that is Mr President? I'd like to know where that is because this, I've never seen," Ramaphosa said to Trump. 

Trump said it was in South Africa and Ramaphosa responded perhaps a bit quietly, "we need to find out."

As Trump was discussing the Qatari jet and Air Force One delays (and making several disparaging remarks about my TV pooling counterpart Peter Alexander), he gestured toward the center table in the Oval, where a model of Air Force One was displayed centrally. 

When Trump cracked his joke about getting Musk into more trouble, everyone on the American side chuckled.

For much of the meeting, as delegation members from South Africa spoke, Trump was listening intently, looking toward them. The American folks in the room were doing the same, from what I could see, including Musk.

When Johann Rupert's turn to speak came, he was looking directly at Elon Musk, making eye contact, when he said his country needs Starlink and drones. Musk nodded in response, and when Rubert made a joke about concerns the US was spying, he chuckled softly. Rupert directed several of his remarks directly at Musk as they made eye contact. He also looked directly at Vance for some of the conversation about their prior interactions.

When the president of the trade union spoke, she appeared to be directing many of her remarks at South African press who were holding up cameras and video recorders, and at one point looked toward Susie Wiles, who was seated in a chair directly across from Trump, holding a printed schedule of the meetings in her hands.

When Trump mentioned the G8 becoming the G7 because they kicked out Russia and said if they hadn't done so, Russia probably wouldn't be in the war with Ukraine, it sounded like Ramaphosa said very quietly: "It's true"

In town pool report 9: Lunch lid until 3:30

The White House announced a lunch lid until 3:30

In town pool report 10 - Ramaphosa departure comments

Just before 3 pm, President Ramaphosa left through the North Portico. He was asked how the meeting went. 
"Very well" he said. 
Asked how whether he thinks Trump "heard" him, Ramaphosa said 
"Yes he did, it went very well."

The delegation had been trickling out and into their vehicle for several minutes before Ramaphosa himself. Last to leave at the same time as Ramaphosa were the two golfers — Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Also apologies for a few typos in pool report 8 — the delegation member who looked confused furrowed his *brow, and I misspelled Rupert's name at one point. (And if there were other typos I didn't catch, apologies for those, too)

In-town pool report 11: Gather time TBD

The president's meeting with congressional leaders is ongoing (your pooler observed them arriving around 3 pm on camera feeds from helpful peers on the TV side), and we do not have an updated time to gather for his event in the East Room. 

I have not been given any details about the meeting from the White House, including participants.

Also another mea culpa — I mixed up my White House entrance terminology earlier. The South African arrival and departure both took place at the West Wing entrance and usual stakeout location.

In town pool report 12: Gathering for East Room

We're gathering now for the Florida Gators event in the East Room.

In-town pool report 13: Scene in East Room

Pool has been brought into the East Room for the Gators event. As we were led in, a jazz band was playing an up-tempo number with plenty of drumset. 

The room is standing room only and packed to the gills. Live stream is your best bet to see what's happening — pool does not have a clear view of the stage. Unsure if I'll even be able to see Trump's head over the crowd when he enters. Perhaps some of the players. Lots of phones are being held up in the crowd. 

Will still send any color I can. 

I have received no updates on the congressional meeting.

In town pool report 14: meeting not over/Gators

The White House says the congressional meeting is still going as Trump speaks

Confirming that I cannot see Trump, so I refer you to the feed for visuals.

As we waited, piano music was playing. At times, chants broke out, including "orange and blue" and "Gators."

The Gators were announced and walked out at 4:28 pm to loud cheers and what I presume is the fight song. 

The audience has a ton of phones out taking pictures and video. Then the piano played what is likely the school song, the audience sang along at the very end. 

Then the music for Trump began playing at 4:30 and he walked in with the head coach to Hail to the Chief to more loud cheers. 

Trump shouted out Bondi and Rubio in the audience, both also got cheers. Trump called Rubio "Senator" as he called him up. 

Also shouted out the states' senators and several representatives (Donalds got a big cheer, Randy Fine got a joke about Trump being worried about his election.) 

Event is ongoing. The crowd is eating up Trump's remarks.

In town pool report 15: Event wraps

As you likely saw, Trump finished his remarks about the Gators season, peppered with jokes and asides, at 4:47. Then "We Are The Champions" played as guests started to exit.

Shortly before wrapping, Trump quipped, "The most exciting room anywhere in the world is the Oval Office," perhaps a statement with added oomph today, and invited the team to visit with him there after this. 

I haven't received any other updates about the meeting with congressional leaders. 

Pool is starting to exit now.

In-town pool report 16: Congressional meeting apparently over

I have not received official word from the press office, but some of my TV colleagues observed congressional leaders exiting the White House at 4:56 p.m.

I asked for an official participant list if they have it, but have not received one other than it included House Republican leadership and Freedom Caucus representation. I was told that it the meeting took place in the Cabinet Room.

I also asked earlier on behalf of others for a list of the articles that President Trump handed to President Ramaphosa in the Oval Office and have not yet gotten an answer. 

In-town pool report 16a: Meeting statement

From the White House: 

"The meeting was productive and moved the ball in the right direction. The President reiterated how critical it is for the country to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill as quickly as possible." -Karoline Leavitt

In-town pool report 17: Lid

We have a travel/photo lid as of 6:17.

Have a great evening!

Foreign Pool Report #1. Background on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa´s visit to the White House

Good morning,

I am your foreign pooler for the visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the White House. Please reach out if you have any questions.
The purpose of this visit is to reset the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Schedule:
President Ramaphosa arrived in Washington, D.C., late Monday. Today, Ramaphosa's arrival at the White House is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The working visit will include a bilateral lunch and a bilateral meeting. Lunch in the Cabinet Room is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., followed by the bilat in the Oval Office at 12:45 p.m.
South African delegation:
-  Ronald Lamola – Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
- Khumbudzo Ntshavheni – Minister in The Presidency
- Parks Tau – Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
- John Steenhuisen – Minister of Agriculture
- Mcebisi Jonas – Special Envoy to the United States
Notable accompanying figures from the business and sports sectors:
- Ernie Els – Professional golfer
- Retief Goosen – Professional golfer
- Johann Rupert – South African billionaire and luxury goods magnate
Topics for the bilateral meeting:
Ramaphosa's priority is to reset and revitalize the strained bilateral relations. "This visit provides a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries", read a statement issued by South Africa's presidency.

Ramaphosa emphasized that trade would be the focus of his visit, and South African officials have prepared a trade proposal to present to Trump. Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., Ramaphosa said that "the trade relations are the most important. That is what has brought us here. We want to come out of the United States with a really good trade deal". He also plans to discuss business opportunities for Elon Musk's companies and to clarify South Africa's policy positions on a range of pressing geopolitical matters, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

This visit comes a week after the United States welcomed a group of white South Africans as refugees. President Trump is expected to point to alleged discrimination against Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority, and ask President Ramaphosa to roll back the country's racial equity laws. 

Previous Meetings:
Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House for an official working visit in September 2022, when he met with former President Joe Biden.
This will be his first meeting with Donald Trump since the latter began his second term. But both presidents have met in person on at least one occasion. They had a brief encounter in September 2018, during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Bilateral Relationship:
Relations between South Africa and the United States have soured since Trump returned to the White House in January. Trump has criticized South Africa's government on multiple fronts:

- Its controversial land reform policy: in January, Ramaphosa signed into law a measure that allows the government to expropriate privately held land without providing compensation when deemed in the public interest. His government says it aims to address the consequences of apartheid. Trump has argued that it unfairly targets white landowners.
- Its genocide case against U.S. ally Israel before the International Court of Justice: in December 2023, South Africa filed proceedings at the ICJ, alleging that Israel's military operations in Gaza constitute acts of genocide.

On February 7, Trump issued an executive order cutting all U.S. funding to South Africa, citing what he described as its anti-white domestic policies and anti-American foreign policy. In March he expelled the South African ambassador. Last week, he granted refugee status to a group of white South Africans he said were facing racial discrimination, a claim that the South African government denies. Furthermore, the United States has said they would skip the G20 Summit in South Africa (the meeting is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in November).

Now the South African President will try to use this visit to persuade President Trump to make deals with his country. The stakes are high for South Africa: the United States is its second-biggest trading partner and the aid cut has already resulted in a drop in testing for HIV patients.

Background on Afrikaner refugees:

On May 12, the United States welcomed a group of South Africans, including families and small children, as refugees. They landed at Dulles airport. They are Afrikaner farmers whom Trump claims are being persecuted in their homeland because of their race. Trump said that "it's a genocide that's taking place, white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa. They happen to be white. But whether they're white or black makes no difference to me" and he announced a program to offer them relocation to the U.S. The Trump administration has fast-tracked their applications while pausing other refugee programs.

President Trump is likely to raise the alleged discrimination against Afrikaners. According to a White House official, he is expected to ask that the government of South Africa classify farm attacks as a priority crime. Trump may also press for the South African government to condemn the "kill the Boer" chant, an anti-apartheid chant which the governing party has distanced itself from.

South Africa denies the allegations and says there is no evidence of persecution of white people in the country. Ramaphosa said that Trump had received false information about white South Africans being discriminated against, and that "the American government has got the wrong end of the stick here". During this visit, he will get his chance to try to rebut this narrative directly. Ramaphosa plans to call on Trump to support an independent investigation into the genocide claims, according to his spokesman Vincent Magwenya. South African crime statistics show no evidence of white people being disproportionately targeted.

The Afrikaners are a white minority in South Africa, they descended from mainly Dutch colonists and also sometimes called Boers. They led the apartheid regime, which segregated the Black majority. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the government has made efforts to undo the imbalance and redistribute land to Black South Africans. White people, who make up about 7% of South Africa's population, are still richer than the Black majority by every economic measure. They own about three-quarters of individually owned farms and agricultural holdings, according to a 2017 South African government land audit.

Background on Trade:
The United States is South Africa's second-biggest trading partner after China. Trump's sweeping trade tariffs announced in April (and subsequently paused for 90 days) included a levy of 31 percent on South African imports. And the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to the US market for South African agricultural products, is up for renewal in September.

During this visit, Ramaphosa plans to offer Trump a broad trade deal. He is expected to try to convince Trump that the United States has a lot to gain from maintaining close ties with South Africa, the largest economy in Africa. In 2023, South Africa exported $13.9 billion worth of goods to the United States and imported $7.1 billion worth of American goods, resulting in a U.S. trade deficit of about $6.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division.

For his part, President Trump is expected to demand that U.S. companies are exempted from "racial requirements", according to a White House official. South Africa has laws to compel businesses to hire and promote Black South Africans, including a requirement for large companies in some sectors, such as mining and telecommunications, to have a 30% equity stake held by disadvantaged groups. Elon Musk has criticized that requirement. He has blamed it for preventing him from bringing his satellite company, Starlink, to his native country.

Background on Elon Musk:

Elon Musk was born in South Africa and has been among the loudest critics of the country he left as a teenager. President Ramaphosa will also try to reset his relationship with him. He plans to discuss business opportunities for Tesla and Starlink, companies owned by Musk. Ramaphosa's spokesperson said discussions could include licensing for Starlink and favorable tariffs for Tesla's imports into South Africa in return for building electric vehicle charging stations.  

Background on Gaza:
South Africa brought genocide charges against Israel at The Hague in 2023, related to Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza.
During this visit, President Ramaphosa plans to lean into areas such as the need to ensure that humanitarian aid gets into Gaza. According to his spokesman, he may also counter Trump's Afrikaner genocide accusations by pointing to America's support of Israel, and argue it is "laughable that you can use the word genocide on South Africa, while on the other hand you're looking the other way where the actual genocide is being committed."
President Trump has been critical of what he perceives as South Africa's cozy relationship with Iran and Hamas.

Background on Cyril Ramaphosa: 
Cyril Ramaphosa is 72 years old. He serves as the President of South Africa since 2018. He is the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that has ruled the country since the end of apartheid.

Ramaphosa headed the ANC's negotiating team during 1990s talks that led to apartheid's peaceful end. He also has a background as a wealthy businessman: he left politics in the late 1990s and became a successful entrepreneur, founding the investment holding company Shanduka Group before returning to politics and becoming president in 2018.

Foreign Pool Report #2 Some quotes from President Ramaphosa in the Oval

Seated next to President Trump in the Oval, President Ramaphosa said that he came to the White House "to reset the relationship" between the two countries. He brought a golf book as a gift for President Trump, he thanked him for the respirators sent to South Africa during the COVID 19 pandemic, and during the pool spray he invited some members of his delegation to talk to President Trump in front of the cameras: professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and billionaire Johann Rupert asked for U.S. support and friendship.

When Trump talked about white South African farmers being "executed", Ramaphosa and the members of the South African delegation said that their country does have criminality, but they argued that white people are not being disproportionately targeted, and they asked for U.S. drones and technology to improve security in South Africa. Ramaphosa said he wanted to seat with Trump and speak calmly about his concerns, like Nelson Mandela liked to do.

They all watched this more than four minutes long video: https://x.com/whitehouse/status/1925232291220951370?s=46 played for them and for reporters in the Oval by the White House as proof of persecution in South Africa. In the video, some South African politicians sing the "Kill the Boer, kill the farmer" chant, an anti-apartheid chant which the governing party in South Africa had distanced itself from. When asked about his reaction, Ramaphosa said he condemned this kind of rethoric and explained that the politicians in the video are from a small party in South Africa, not from his party (wich is the ANC, African National Congress, the party that has ruled the country since the end of apartheid).

(Some context here: Boer is a Dutch and Afrikaans word that translates to farmer. The Boers are the Afrikaners, a white minority in South Africa, they descended from mainly Dutch colonists and led the apartheid regime).

Ramaphosa also raised the war in Ukraine, to ask for peace and encourage the negotiating efforts.  And he told Trump "I am sorry I don't have a plane to give you", referring to the Qatari plane.

Foreign Pool Report #3 End of visit

President Ramaphosa left the White House at 2.58PM.

He said the meeting "went very weel". When asked if President Trump had heard him, he answered "yes, he did. It went very well".