The U.S. government is planning a costly media campaign in South Africa to investigate why fewer white Afrikaners than expected have applied for refugee status in America, despite claims by a former U.S. president that they face "white genocide." Officials acknowledge uncertainty over the low application rates since the program opened last year and are seeking insights through research and targeted advertising. The effort, outlined in an internal proposal, reflects a shift toward understanding public perception amid declining interest. The initiative raises questions about the effectiveness of political rhetoric in driving policy outcomes.
Exclusive: Trump has falsely claimed Afrikaners are facing ‘white genocide’, but very few have applied to live in USThe US government could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a media campaign in South Africa to figure out why more white Afrikaners are not applying to become refugees to the US, as Donald Trump had hoped.State department officials, according to an August proposal seen by the Guardian, outlined a roughly $335,000 research and advertising effort after applications to the refugee program “trended lower than expected” since Afrikaners were allowed to apply directly online in November 2025. The document, written by the US mission in South Africa with a department research unit for the embassy in Pretoria, admits officials know little about why. Continue reading...
