Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Admits to Smirking During Donald Trump Meeting, Says It Was During Malema Clips

• Khumbudzo Ntshavheni admitted to laughing during Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with Donald Trump on 21 May
• The Minister in the Presidency said that she found Trump's utterances about Malema to be quite hilarious
• The Economic Freedom Fighters were not pleased with the meeting, saying it was used to attack Malema

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – The courtesies extended to the South African delegation by the United States government were unmatched.

That’s according to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who said that there was cordiality between Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump, saying that there was no impatience, and that there was the opportunity to speak.

Ntshaveni made the comments during an interview with eNCA on 26 May 2025, during which she provided an update about the talks between the two presidents on 21 May in the White House.

The two leaders met to discuss the recent tensions between the two countries, brought on by Trump's claims that terrible things were happening in South Africa.

Ntshavheni admits to smirking during the meeting

When asked about the moment Donald Trump asked for the lights to be dimmed and videos of Julius Malema to be played, the minister confessed that she got dragged over smirking and smiling during the moment.

Ntshavheni admitted that she started smiling when Trump said that Malema was an official and asked why an official was allowed to say these things, and called for his arrest.

“I was laughing because I thought, can people lie so much to the president of a country to claim that Julius Malema is in government. He has never been in government,” she said.

Ntshavheni added that she can understand them saying former President Jacob Zuma was in government, because maybe they missed the transition.

Ntshaveni wasn’t the only one caught smiling, as Ramaphosa was also caught on camera fighting back laughter when clips of Malema were played. Trump played the clips to prove his point of genocide was taking place in the country.

What you need to know about Malema, Trump and the videos

• Donald Trump played videos of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Malema in the White House.
• Malema began trending online as South Africans joked that he was embarrassing the country.
• The EFF claimed that the meeting between the presidents was used to attack its party leader, Malema.
• The EFF launched an attack against Trump, claiming that the US president was a liar.
• Malema left many amused when he claimed that US President Trump was afraid of him.

Ramaphosa believes Trump doubts white genocide claims

Briefly News also reported that Ramaphosa believed that Trump had doubts about the claims of white genocide.

Trump previously claimed that land was being taken away from white farmers and then they were being executed.

Ramaphosa believes that the meeting helped to dispel these claims and put some doubt in Trump’s mind.

Source: Briefly News