The visit comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations, following Trump's recent executive order on SA.  

The Presidency confirmed Ramaphosa’s upcoming trip after Trump announced earlier this week that he was expecting a leadership delegation from SA. The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, is expected to address a range of critical issues, including foreign policy, trade agreements, and economic cooperation.  

Diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Washington have become increasingly strained since February, when Trump signed an executive order alleging discrimination against the Afrikaner minority in SA. The order facilitated their entry into the US, with the first group of 49 Afrikaners arriving on a US-chartered flight last Monday.  

Trump has further claimed that the group is facing genocide in SA, a charge that Pretoria has firmly denied. His executive action also blocked foreign aid to SA, citing concerns over race-based discrimination and land expropriation policies without compensation.  

Beyond political tensions, the meeting is likely to focus heavily on trade and tariffs, particularly SA's preferential status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Both leaders are expected to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues, with hopes of resetting the strategic relationship between their countries.

--Sherwin Bryce-Pease/ChannelAfrica--