Trump signed an executive order offering asylum to white Afrikaners and cutting aid to South Africa. In Trump’s mind, white South Africans are a persecuted minority.

In reality, whites still enjoy staggering privilege in South Africa. 73% of privately owned land in South Africa is owned by whites, depsite white people comprising about 7% of the population. White people occupy 62% of top management positions in corporations, with Black managers occupying 17% of leadership roles. Unemployment is 36.9% for Black South Africans vs. 7.9% for whites.

Qaanitah Hunter / Aljazeera