Trump South Africa tweet puts U.S. embassy in trouble

South Africa hit back at Donald Trump on Thursday after the US President criticized the country’s land reform policies in an overnight tweet.

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The controversy began when Trump tweeted late Wednesday that he had asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.”

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

The Trump South Africa tweet appeared to be in response to a report on Fox News which alleged that the South African government was “seizing land from white farmers.”

On Thursday, the South African government said Trump’s tweet was “based on false information” and said it would call on the US Embassy to explain the President’s remarks.

“South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past,” the government tweeted.

“South Africa will speed up the pace of land reform in a careful and inclusive manner that does not divide our nation.”

South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. #landexpropriation @realDonaldTrump @PresidencyZA

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 23, 2018

“Hysterical comments and statements do not assist in the process,” Khusela Diko, spokeswoman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, told CNN.

“The majority of South Africans want to see land reform. The majority of our farmers, white and black want to be a part of this initiative.”

Read the full report on CNN here