INTERNACIONAL
Trump’s criticism of South Africa’s violent crime crisis receives unexpected local support
JOHANNESBURG — South Africans welcomed President Donald Trump’s highly critical Oval Office statements Wednesday about killings in the country, according to analysts.
The President showed video clips and gave South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa a sheaf of news clippings he said show farm murders.
Many believe this «ambush» by President Trump toward the South African leader is good for the country, because it throws a sharp light on the darkness that is the high level of killings in the country, and how President Ramaphosa’s government is said to be failing to adequately tackle it.
Approximately 6,953 people of all races were murdered in South Africa in just the last three months of 2024, according to police statistics. That is 76 people on average killed every day.
TRUMP CONFRONTS SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT WITH VIDEO ON TREATMENT OF WHITE FARMERS
President Donald Trump, left, shows documents as he meets South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP/Evan Vucci)
Additionally, killers are literally getting away with murder. It was reported that between 2019 and 2022 only 12% of murder prosecutions resulted in a conviction.
«President Trump’s focus on violent crime in South Africa is a strong positive to emerge from the Oval Office meeting,» analyst Frans Cronje told Fox News Digital.
Cronje, president of the Washington-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, added, «South Africa has averaged an intentional homicide rate of around 40 homicides per 100 000 residents since becoming a democracy in 1994.»
He continued, «the global figure is nearer 4/100 000. More people are murdered in South Africa annually, with its population of just over 60 million, than across the entire Western world, with its population of almost a billion people.»
A plainclothes police officer with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department questions a man found inside a dilapidated building used as a shelter in Johannesburg on May 15, 2023. (Photo by MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty Images)
At home, the South African government has been harshly and repeatedly criticized for not tackling violent crime effectively.
Cronje said, «The South African government has failed the people of the country in not taking the blight of criminal violence seriously, and external U.S. pressure to address the violence as a precondition for any major investment treaties is pressure that domestic South African activists may employ to address their government’s neglect.»
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Crosses are planted on a hillside at the White Cross Monument, each one marking a White farmer who has been killed in a farm murder, on Oct. 31, 2017 in Ysterberg, near Langebaan, South Africa. A long campaign of violence against the country’s farmers, who are largely White, has inflamed political and racial tensions nearly a quarter-of-a-century after the fall of apartheid. (GULSHAN KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Analyst Max Meizlish told Fox News Digital, «It’s clear that decades of corruption in South Africa have hollowed out the state’s ability to provide even the most basic services — from reliable water and electricity, to a functioning police force and equal protection under the law.»
Meizlish, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, added that in the election here last year, «the ANC lost its national majority for the first time since the end of apartheid.» The African National Congress (ANC) government took power in 1994.
«The Ramaphosa government is devoting more time and resources to courting BRICS allies like China, Russia, and Iran, than to restoring order at home.
«President Trump is right to demand change from Ramaphosa on everything from land reform and human rights abuses to South Africa’s growing alignment with America’s adversaries,» he stated.
Perhaps off script, right inside the Oval Office last Wednesday, Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, spoke out about other serious crimes going virtually unchecked. «There is no doubt about it that we are a violent nation,» she told President Trump and the others crammed into the room. She added, «if you go into the rural areas where (there is a) Black majority, you would see women, elderly, being raped, being killed, being murdered.»
President of the ruling African National Congress and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to supporters during the ANC Siyanqoba Rally held at FNB Stadium on May 25, 2024 in Johannesburg. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN MUSK EVOKED BY TRUMP DURING MEETING WITH NATION’S LEADER: ‘DON’T WANT TO GET ELON INVOLVED’
Losi continued, «And the problem in South Africa, it is not necessarily about race, but it is about crime. And we think that we are here to say, how do we both nations work together to reset, to really talk about investment … to really address the levels of crime that we have in our country. «
Sources say that after previously refusing to let Elon Musk bring his Starlink satellite communications system into South Africa, citing the need for local partial ownership, Ramaphosa and his advisors have now realized that Starlink’s data services could help bring greater security, particularly to rural areas of the country.
In crime statistics for the first three months of this year released on Friday, which critics say are not verified independently, the Police Minister claimed five of the six people killed on farms were Black, and one was White.
President Donald Trump, right, meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP/Evan Vucci)
However, with little effective police protection in the cities, and even less in the rural areas, a Black farmer’s comment sums up the worries of many South Africans today. Standing at the funeral of a rural White farmer, he said to an Institute of Race Relations representative «Although he’s White, we don’t look at the color. We are doing the same thing. Next time it’s going to be me.»
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Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government for comment, but they did not respond.
Trump sends message to Obama: He ‘owes me BIG’
President Donald Trump discusses a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity amid his accusations against former President Barack Obama for pushing a faulty Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
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President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland late Friday for a working trip where he is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and the U.K., as well as visit several of his properties there.
«We’re meeting with the prime minister tonight,» Trump told reporters Friday before departing for Scotland. «We’re going to be talking about the trade deal that we made, and maybe even improve it.»
«We want to talk about certain aspects, which is going to be good for both countries,» Trump said. «More fine-tuning. Also, we’re going to do a little celebrating together, because, you know, we got along very well. U.K.’s been trying to make a deal with us for like, 12 years, and haven’t been able to do it. We got it done, and he’s doing a very good job, this prime minister. Good guy.»
TRUMP HEADS TO SCOTLAND TO TALK GOLF, POLITICS AND TRADE
President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025, in Prestwick, Scotland.
In May, the U.S. and the U.K. announced the two countries had agreed to a major trade deal, which marked the first historic trade negotiation signed following Liberation Day, when Trump announced widespread tariffs for multiple countries April 2 at a range of rates.
Trump, who is slated to remain in Scotland until Tuesday, is also scheduled to visit his golf courses in Turnberry and Aberdeen while abroad.
Here’s also what happened this week:
Federal Reserve visit
Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters Thursday, as he has ramped up digs at Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Trump accompanied other administration officials for a tour of the headquarters, following $2.5 billion in renovations to the building. The massive project has attracted scrutiny from lawmakers and members of the Trump administration, including the president, who suggested the huge renovation could amount to a fireable offense.
«I think he’s terrible … I didn’t see him as a guy that needed a palace to live in,» Trump said July 16. «But the one thing I would have never guessed is that he would be spending two and a half billion dollars to build a little extension onto the Fed.»
FOUR KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP’S VISIT TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE WITH POWELL
President Donald Trump speaks with Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell (right) as he visits the Federal Reserve in Washington, July 24, 2025.
On Thursday, the two briefly sparred over the cost of the renovation, but Trump told reporters afterward that the two had a «good meeting» and that there was «no tension.» Trump also shut down speculation he might oust Powell, claiming such a move would be unnecessary.
The Federal Reserve, the United States central bank, oversees the nation’s monetary policy and regulates financial institutions.
Trump historically has railed against Powell, calling him names like «numskull» and «too late.» Likewise, Trump has expressed ire toward Powell for ignoring requests to lower interest rates.
«Well, I’d love him to lower interest rates, but other than that, what can I tell you?» Trump said Thursday.
Rescissions package signing
Trump signed into law Thursday his roughly $9 billion rescissions package to claw back already approved federal funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
The rescissions measure revoked nearly $8 billion in funding Congress already approved for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a formerly independent agency that provided impoverished countries aid and offered development assistance.
The rescissions package also rescinds more than $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides federal funding for NPR and PBS.
TRUMP SIGNS $9B RESCISSIONS PACKAGE INTO LAW, REVOKING FUNDING FOR FOREIGN AID, NPR
Liberals reacted strongly to Congress’ recent vote to strip federal funding from NPR and PBS. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
INTERNACIONAL
Israel reanuda el lanzamiento de ayuda sobre Gaza en medio de una grave crisis humanitaria
En medio de una creciente presión internacional para permitir el ingreso de asistencia humanitaria a la Franja de Gaza, Israel reanudó este sábado el lanzamiento aéreo de alimentos y suministros básicos. El Ejército informó que arrojó siete paquetes con harina, azúcar y comida enlatada, como parte del esfuerzo por «facilitar la entrada de ayuda» al territorio palestino.
La iniciativa también incluirá la participación del Reino Unido y Emiratos Árabes Unidos, que anunciaron su disposición para sumarse de inmediato a los envíos.
Sin embargo, la ONU y organizaciones humanitarias insisten en que esta modalidad no resuelve el problema de fondo. «El lanzamiento aéreo no pondrá fin al hambre. Es costoso, ineficaz y puede incluso matar a civiles hambrientos», escribió en la red X Philippe Lazzarini, director de la agencia de la ONU para los refugiados palestinos (UNRWA).
Este sábado, la Defensa Civil de Gaza denunció la muerte de al menos 40 personas por bombardeos israelíes en distintos puntos del enclave, incluyendo Ciudad de Gaza, Jan Yunis y un campamento en el centro del territorio. Además, tres personas murieron por disparos del Ejército cuando esperaban recibir ayuda, una de ellas alcanzada al acercarse a un punto de distribución ubicado cerca de un puesto militar israelí.
Testigos aseguraron que miles de personas se habían congregado en ese lugar con la esperanza de conseguir alimentos. «El Ejército abrió fuego cuando la gente intentó acercarse», dijo Abou Samir Hamoudeh, de 42 años, a la agencia AFP.
En paralelo, un barco con activistas propalestinos fue interceptado por fuerzas israelíes cuando se aproximaba a la costa de Gaza. Se trata del «Handala», una embarcación fletada por el movimiento internacional Flotilla por la Libertad, que había partido desde Sicilia con cargamento de medicamentos, alimentos y material médico. Israel confirmó que su marina impidió el ingreso del barco y que todos los pasajeros están a salvo.
Desde el inicio de la guerra, el 7 de octubre de 2023, Israel mantiene un bloqueo casi total sobre Gaza. A principios de marzo, ese cerco se endureció aún más, agravando la crisis por la falta de alimentos, medicamentos y otros bienes esenciales. Recién a fines de mayo se autorizaron algunas flexibilizaciones.
Este viernes, Francia, Alemania y Reino Unido reclamaron a Israel que levante de inmediato las restricciones a la entrada de ayuda humanitaria. En tanto, el Ejército israelí dijo que establecerá corredores humanitarios para permitir el paso seguro de los convoyes de alimentos y medicinas organizados por la ONU.
La guerra fue desencadenada por el brutal ataque de Hamas contra territorio israelí, que dejó 1.219 muertos, en su mayoría civiles, según cifras oficiales. En represalia, Israel lanzó una ofensiva militar sobre Gaza que ya provocó al menos 59.733 muertes, también en su mayoría civiles, según el Ministerio de Salud de ese territorio, cuyas cifras son consideradas creíbles por la ONU.
Los médicos de Gaza atienden cada día chicos y adultos desnutridos. Los hospitales suman cada día muertos por esa causa o por enfermedades evitables y simples pero que no pueden ser tratadas por falta de medicamentos. El mundo alza la voz ante la creciente crisis humanitaria en el enclave palestino, luego de más de 20 meses de guerra. Pero la ayuda que los habitantes necesitan desesperadamente no llega a tiempo y los esfuerzos para hacerla entrar se enfrentan a numerosos obstáculos.
Las agencias de la ONU y las organizaciones humanitarias denuncian las restricciones impuestas por Israel, el problema acuciante de la seguridad en un territorio constantemente bombardeado, y la aplicación de un mecanismo auspiciado por Estados Unidos y el Estado hebreo que hace caso omiso del sistema humanitario tradicional.
Israel acusa a las organizaciones internacionales de haber fracasado, y asegura que el anterior sistema coordinado por la ONU permitía al movimiento ultraislámico Hamas saquear los camiones de ayuda.
Sobre el terreno, más de 100 organizaciones humanitarias alertaron esta semana del riesgo de hambre masiva en el enclave palestino. Tanto la ONU como las ONGs se niegan a cooperar con la Fundación Humanitaria de Gaza (GHF) ya que consideran que fue concebida para servir principalmente los objetivos militares israelíes.
Israel,Franja de Gaza,Últimas Noticias
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The Trump administration’s battle with Democrat-controlled jurisdictions and their sanctuary polices suffered a blow on Friday when a federal judge in Chicago dismissed a case challenging their legality.
Judge Lindsay Jenkins of the Northern District of Illinois, a President Biden appointee, granted the defendants’ motion for dismissal, ruling that the city’s ordinances are lawful protections not subject to federal enforcement mandates.
The Trump Justice Department, in a February filing, accused the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago of unlawfully interfering with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration as it aims to carry out mass deportations.
U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins in Illinois has dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit that sought to block Chicago’s limits on cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. (Getty; U.S. Senate)
TRUMP DOJ SUES NEW YORK CITY OVER LONG-STANDING SANCTUARY IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Sanctuary cities or sanctuary policies limit co-operation between local officials and law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration has long railed against the measures, arguing they make such areas a haven for criminal illegal immigrants and contribute to increased crime.
The Justice Department alleges these laws violate the U.S. Constitution’s «Supremacy Clause» under the Tenth Amendment, which states that federal law preempts state and local laws that may conflict with it.
But Jenkins rejected the argument, ruling that states retain significant powers not explicitly granted to the federal government.
«Finding that these same Policy provisions constitute discrimination or impermissible regulation would provide an end-run around the Tenth Amendment,» the judge wrote. «It would allow the federal government to commandeer States under the guise of intergovernmental immunity — the exact type of direct regulation of states barred by the Tenth Amendment.»
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. ( Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
MAYOR JOHNSON WARNS TRUMP AGAINST DEPLOYING FEDERAL TROOPS FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN CHICAGO
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance in 2012 that stops city agencies and employees from getting involved in civil immigration enforcement or helping federal authorities with such efforts. The Illinois legislature passed a similar state law, known as the TRUST Act, in 2017.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was pleased with the decision and that the city is safer when police focus on the needs of Chicagoans.
«This ruling affirms what we have long known: that Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance is lawful and supports public safety. The City cannot be compelled to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s reckless and inhumane immigration agenda,» he said in a statement.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, left, said he was pleased with the decision and that the city is safer when police focus on the needs of Chicagoans. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, left, and Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images, right.)
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The Trump administration has sued several jurisdictions over their sanctuary policies, including a filing this week against New York City. The administration has also sued several New Jersey cities, as well as Los Angeles.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the federal government was left with no choice but to protect New Yorkers by filing the suit.
«If New York’s leaders won’t step up to protect their citizens, we will,» she wrote on X.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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