WHEN US President Donald Trump entered the political scene and became the head of state of that country in 2017, so began the era of ‘fake news’.

Trump used the fake news strategy to dismiss any criticism directed towards his presidency. You questioned him about the most obvious shortcomings of his administration, he labels you and the news publication you work for as fake news. That strategy appeared to draw the attention of other leaders in other parts of the world who refused to be held accountable by journalists and the public at large. Trump had then perfected a diversion strategy, until recently when he fell for the trap of fake news. How ironic for a US president to spread lies about South African’s Expropriation Bill, which recently became an act after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed it into law?

Perhaps, was it a case of Trump not doing his research and only believing a narrative peddled by white lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity, before claiming that land belonging to a certain class of people was being confiscated?

Well, whatever the case, we have news for Mr Trump. It’s fake news, Mr President, and no one knows that better than you do.

Threatening to pull US funding from South Africa over lies makes Trump look really clueless. A quick Google search, which his friend Elon Musk can assist with, will reveal the history of the land question in South Africa.

It will enlighten Trump that land was confiscated from blacks in the early 1900s and at the height of apartheid. The story of District Six in Cape Town will make him understand why the land question in South Africa is nothing to politic about.

Not that Trump cares anyway because of his reference to Africa as a sh** hole. So cutting funding to South Africa will not erase the historical sins around the land question nor will it force the country to pull back from addressing these historical injustices. In fact Mr Trump, you can take your funding to countries that will be willing to abandon their sovereignty in favour of US money.

We say to you to stay out of our country’s business, and deal with the mounting issues your country is also facing. That is the real news.

Cape Times