Tucker Carlson’s Farm Attack Video Sparks Outrage, South Africans Challenge ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Claim
- American commentator Tucker Carlson released a nearly 2-hour interview with Afrikaner rights activist Leon Lotz on The Tucker Carlson Show
- Lotz recounted a 2010 farm attack during the interview, as the pair discussed the 'white genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing' in South Africa
- South Africans pushed back strongly against Carlson's framing, with critics pointing to official crime statistics and factual errors in the episode
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
American conservative commentator Tucker Carlson released a nearly two-hour interview with Afrikaner rights activist and former military serviceman Leon Lotz, sparking backlash on social media.
The interview, titled "The Most Sickening Story the Media Says Doesn't Exist: South Africa's White Genocide," was aired on 30 September 2026. Published on the Tucker Carlson Network, it drew close to 700,000 views on X within hours of Carlson promoting it on the platform.
Leon Lotz recounts 2010 farm attack
At the centre of the interview was a 2010 home invasion on Lotz's in-laws' farm. Lotz described how eight armed attackers killed his father-in-law, severely assaulted his mother-in-law, and raped his wife in front of their children.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Carlson used the account to argue that the international media deliberately suppresses or dismisses what he called the "ethnic cleansing" of white South Africans, a characterisation that Lotz supported by claiming farm attacks are poorly understood outside the country. Carlson also made the claim that Nelson Mandela was arrested for trying to bomb a train, a historically inaccurate assertion that drew immediate ridicule online.
Lotz and Carlson's comments about a white genocide are not a new narrative about South Africa.
What you need to know about claims made against South Africa
- The FW De Klerk Foundation has rubbished Donald Trump's claims about racial discrimination.
- Donald Trump deleted a tweet claiming that South Africa was a dangerous place.
- The US State Department has explained why it is unhappy with South Africa at the moment.
- The US President offered citizenship to farmers and their families if they don’t feel safe in South Africa.
- Elon Musk claimed on X that the media weren’t reporting on the genocide in South Africa.
- Trump claimed that South Africa had a policy of exterminating people, which is why he would not attend the G20.
South Africans challenge the framing
The episode provoked a sharp and largely critical response from South African users on X, with many disputing both the factual accuracy of the episode and the "white genocide" framing.
@Mikedotcoza wrote:
"You are misled. Crime affects everyone in South Africa. Farm attacks account for 0.2% of crime, and are faced mostly by workers who are mostly black."
@88KOS said:
"As a white guy in South Africa, I extend you an invitation to visit me so I can show you that there is no ethnic cleansing happening. Until then, keep your mouth off my country."
@Squirrel1980021 added:
"Tucker, you are very misinformed and misled. Come here and visit the farms before doing such narrative-creating reports. Ethnic cleansing is a very serious allegation."
@Oros_Mnisi responded specifically to the Mandela claim:
"'Nelson Mandela was arrested for trying to bomb a train'. I stopped watching as soon as you said this lie. What a joke."
@1Thepowerrace questioned Carlson's editorial choices directly:
"How come you never interview any Black South Africans? Why are you only interviewing right-wing white supremacists? What's your agenda exactly?"
@Thabo_Tshisi wrote:
"Very disappointing seeing this from Tucker. Utterly awful. Poorly researched; you could've at the very least — made a trip to the country."
Donald Trump doubles down on white genocide claims
Briefly News reported that Trump made comments about white genocide after his speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The President of the United States maintained that he saw the numbers regarding white genocide in South Africa.
Trump was also asked by a reporter what it would take for him to believe there was no genocide taking place in the country.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
