By GERALD IMRAY, Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump will host South Africa’s leader at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting that might be tense after Trump accused the country’s government of allowing a “genocide” to take place against minority white farmers.

South Africa has strongly rejected the allegation and President Cyril Ramaphosa pushed for the meeting with Trump in an attempt to salvage his country’s relationship with the United States, which is at its lowest point since the end of the apartheid system of racial segregation in 1994.

Trump has launched a series of accusations at South Africa’s Black-led government, including that it is seizing land from white farmers, enforcing anti-white policies and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives for a meeting with the House Republican Conference at the Capitol, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Ramaphosa said he hopes to correct what he calls damaging mischaracterizations during the meeting, which is Trump’s first with an African leader at the White House since he returned to office.

Some in South Africa worry their leader might get “Zelenskyy’d” — a reference to the public bashing Trump and Vice President JD Vance handed out to the Ukrainian president in their infamous Oval Office meeting in February.

In advance of the meeting, a White House official said Trump’s topics of discussion with Ramaphosa were likely to include the need to condemn politicians who “promote genocidal rhetoric” and to classify farm attacks as a priority crime. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said Trump also was likely to raise South African race-based barriers to trade and the need to “stop scaring off investors.”

Here’s what to know ahead of the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting.

Will Trump stand by the genocide allegation?

Trump’s criticism of South Africa began in early February in a post on Truth Social when he accused South Africa’s government of seizing land from white Afrikaner farmers and a “massive Human Rights VIOLATION” against members of the white minority.

Afrikaner refugees from South Africa holding American flags arrive, Monday, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump’s allegation that Afrikaners were being mistreated was at the center of an executive order he issued days later that cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa.

He went further this month, alleging there was a “genocide” against white farmers and the Trump administration has brought a small group of white South Africans to the U.S. as refugees in what it says is the start of a larger relocation program.

The U.S. has been asked if it will stand by the genocide allegation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with CBS that it would and that the administration felt there was evidence, citing instances of white farmers being murdered and claiming some were being “forcibly removed” from their properties.

Some white farmers have been killed in violent home invasions. But the South African government says the causes behind the relatively small number of homicides are misunderstood by the Trump administration; they are part of the country’s severe problems with crime and not racially motivated, it says. Black farmers have also been killed.

The South African government has said the allegations against it are misinformation.

South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, who is white and a member of a different political party from Ramaphosa, said in an interview with The Associated Press that no land was being seized from farmers and claims of genocide were false.

“When you mischaracterize things like that and this misinformation gets out, it does have real-world consequences,” said Steenhuisen, who is part of the South African delegation in Washington.

‘Kill the farmer’ chant

The White House official said Trump would also likely impress on Ramaphosa the need for the South African government to publicly condemn politicians who repeat an apartheid-era chant that contains the lyrics “kill the farmer” and “shoot the farmer.” The chant is sometimes used at political rallies by a minority opposition party.

It has often been cited by critics of South Africa — including South African-born Trump ally Elon Musk — as evidence of the persecution of white farmers because it uses the word Boer, which specifically refers to Afrikaners.

While Ramaphosa’s party does not use the chant, the government has not condemned it. An Afrikaner group says it should be labelled hate speech.

What is Musk’s connection?

Musk has been at the forefront of the criticism of his homeland, casting its affirmative action business laws as racist. Musk said on social media that his Starlink satellite internet service wasn’t able to get a license to operate in South Africa because he was white.

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South African authorities say Starlink hasn’t formally applied. If it did, it would be bound by laws that require foreign companies to allow 30% of their South African subsidiaries to be owned by shareholders who are Black or from other racial groups disadvantaged under apartheid.

The Trump administration considered those laws a trade barrier and U.S. companies should be exempt from racial requirements, according to the White House official.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources, that South Africa was willing to negotiate on easing the laws for Musk’s Starlink in an attempt to defuse tensions with the U.S. Ramaphosa didn’t comment on any possible discussions with Musk or his representatives when asked by South African reporters in Washington.

Getting ’Zelenskyy’d’

Ramaphosa was also asked if he worried he might be “humiliated” in a public appearance with Trump. Parts of the South African media have questioned whether Ramaphosa might get “Zelenskyy’d” at the White House — a reference to Trump’s berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the world’s media.

Trump has directed much of his criticism at Ramaphosa and senior government officials, accusing them of doing “some terrible things.”

Ramaphosa said the meeting would focus on trade and normalizing relations and he was not concerned it would become confrontational or that he would be humiliated.

“South Africans are never humiliated, are they? South Africans always go into everything holding their heads high,” he said.

AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING, LEAH ASKARINAM and JOEY CAPPELLETTI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are pushing to vote on their multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks package as soon as Wednesday, grinding out last-minute deal-making to shore up wavering GOP support and deliver on President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority.

Trump himself had instructed the Republican majority to quit arguing and get it done, his own political influence on the line. But GOP leaders worked late into the night to convince skeptical Republicans who have problems on several fronts, including worries that it will pile onto the nation’s $36 trillion debt.

A fresh analysis from the Congressional Budget Office said the tax provisions would increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over the decade, while the changes to Medicaid, food stamps and other services would tally $1 trillion in reduced spending. The lowest-income households in the U.S. would see their resources drop, while the highest ones would see a boost, the CBO said.

Republicans hunkered down at the Capitol through the night for one last committee hearing processing changes to the package. Democrats immediately motioned to adjourn, but the vote failed on party lines.

“President Trump’s ‘one, big, beautiful bill’ is going to require one, big, beautiful vote,” said Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “We are going to get this done.”

President Donald Trump, right, is joined by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., as he arrives for a meeting with the House Republican Conference at the Capitol, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

It’s a make-or-break moment for the president and his party in Congress, who have invested much of their political capital during the crucial first few months of Trump’s return to the White House on this package. If the House Republicans fall in line with the president, overcoming unified Democratic objections, the package would next go to the Senate.

The package comes at a daunting time as the U.S. economy faces uncertainty. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans are trying to “quickly jam this unpopular legislation through the House because they know that the longer they wait, the more will come to light about this cruel and unconscionable bill.”

At its core, the sprawling 1,000-plus-page bill is centered on extending the tax breaks approved during Trump’s first term in 2017, while adding new ones he campaigned on during the 2024 presidential campaign.

To make up for some of the lost revenue, the Republicans are focused on spending cuts to federal safety net programs and a massive rollback of green energy tax breaks from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act.

Additionally, the package tacks on $350 billion in new spending — with about $150 billion going to the Pentagon, including for the president’s new “ Golden Dome” defense shield, and the rest for Trump’s mass deportation and border security agenda.

The package title carries Trump’s own words, the “ One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

As Trump promised voters on the tax front, the package proposes there would be no taxes on tips for certain workers, including those in some service industries; automobile loan interest; or some overtime pay.

There would also be an increase to the standard income tax deduction, to $32,000 for joint filers, and a boost to the child tax credit to $2,500. There would be an enhanced deduction, of $4,000, for seniors of certain income levels, to help defray taxes on Social Security income.

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To cut spending, the package would impose new work requirements for many people who receive health care through Medicaid, with able-bodied adults without dependents needing to fulfill 80 hours a month on a job or in other community activities.

Similarly, those who receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP, would also face new work requirements.

Older Americans up to age 64, rather than 54, who are able-bodied and without dependents would need to work or engage in the community programs for 80 hours a month. Additionally, some parents of children older than 7 years old would need to fulfill the work requirements; under current law, the requirement comes after children are 18.

Republicans said they want to root out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal programs.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated 8.6 million fewer people would have health insurance with the various changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. It also said 3 million fewer people each month would have SNAP benefits.

Republicans have been racing to finish up the package by Memorial Day, a deadline imposed by Johnson as he tries to overcome objections within his own ranks.

Conservatives are insisting on quicker, steeper cuts to federal programs to offset the costs of the trillions of dollars in lost tax revenue. GOP leaders have sped up the start date of the Medicaid work requirements from 2029 to 2027.

At the same time, more moderate and centrist lawmakers are wary of the changes to Medicaid that could result in lost health care for their constituents. Others are worried the phaseout of the renewable energy tax breaks will impede businesses using them to invest in green energy projects in many states.

Plus, a core group of lawmakers from New York, California and other high-tax states want a bigger state and local tax deduction, called SALT, for their voters back home.

As it stands, the bill would triple what’s currently a $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, increasing it to $30,000 for joint filers with incomes up to $400,000 a year. They have proposed a deduction of $62,000 for single filers and $124,000 for joint filers.

Trump has been pushing hard for Republicans to unite behind the bill, which has been uniquely shaped in his image, and he said after meeting with House lawmakers privately Tuesday at the Capitol that anyone who doesn’t support the bill would be a “fool.”

But it’s not at all clear that Trump, who was brought in to seal the deal, changed minds.

One of the conservative Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said afterward he’s still a no vote.

“We’re still a long ways away,” said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chair of the House Freedom Caucus.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group, estimates that the House bill is shaping up to add roughly $3.3 trillion to the debt over the next decade.

Classic risotto is made with starchy medium-grain Italian rice, such as Arborio or carnaroli. This “risotto” uses pearl couscous (which actually is a pasta) and a simplified risotto cooking method to produce “grains” with a rich, creamy consistency.

In this recipe from our cookbook, “Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,” the wheaty flavor of pearl couscous (sometimes called Israeli couscous or ptitim) i a perfect match for grassy, subtly sweet asparagus and the salty, nutty flavor of Parmesan cheese.

When cooking the onion, take care to not let it brown. The assertive bittersweet flavor of caramelized onion will easily overwhelm the other flavors in the dish. Cook only until it softens, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

Much as in a traditional risotto, white wine is used to deglaze the pan, balancing the richness with a hit of brightening acidity.

Don’t use especially thick nor super slender asparagus for this recipe. Choose average, pencil-sized spears so the pieces are perfectly tender when the couscous is done. Make sure to reserve the stalk and tip pieces separately; they’re added at different times because they cook at slightly different rates. Serve with Parmesan and fresh flat-leaf parsley.

Pearl Couscous “Risotto” with Asparagus

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
3 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup pearl couscous
⅓ cup dry white wine
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut on the diagonal into ½-inch pieces; reserve the stalks and tips separately
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (½ cup), plus more to serve
½ cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus more to serve

Directions:

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, then cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the couscous and cook, stirring often, until it begins to brown.

Pour in the wine and cook, stirring, until the pan is almost dry, about 1 minute. Add 3 cups water and ½ teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in the asparagus stalks and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, then stir in the asparagus tips. Continue to cook, stirring, until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and the asparagus is tender, about another 2 minutes.

Off heat, add the Parmesan, parsley and remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then stir until the butter melts. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with additional Parmesan and parsley.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap

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Today is Wednesday, May 21, the 141st day of 2025. There are 224 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On May 21, 1881, the American Red Cross was founded by nurse and educator Clara Barton in Washington D.C.

Also on this date:

In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill killing” carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb (Bobby’s distant cousin).

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In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 33 1/2 hours.

In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.

In 1941, a German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.

In 1955, Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybellene,” for Chess Records in Chicago.

In 1972, Michelangelo’s Pieta, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, was damaged by a hammer-wielding man. (The sculpture went back on display 10 months later after its damaged elements were reconstructed.)

In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk. Outrage over White’s lenient sentence sparked the White Night riots that evening.

In 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated amid Indian national elections by a suicide bomber.

Today’s Birthdays:

Baseball Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox is 84.
Singer Ronald Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 84.
Singer Leo Sayer is 77.
Actor Mr. T is 73.
Actor Judge Reinhold is 68.
Filmmaker Nick Cassavetes is 66.
Actor Lisa Edelstein is 59.
Comedian-TV presenter Noel Fielding is 52.
Actor Fairuza Balk is 51.
Actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph is 39.
Country musician Cody Johnson is 38.
Actor Hannah Einbinder is 30.
NFL quarterback Josh Allen is 29.