In a world where humanitarian and political crises are spreading with unprecedented speed and intensity, human rights concepts have increasingly become political tools in the hands of global powers. Donald Trump, the current President of the United States, is a prime example of this political exploitation. On one hand, he has revived undocumented and controversial narratives about a “white genocide” in South Africa to attract public attention, while on the other, he unconditionally supports Israel’s extensive attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and the destruction of vital infrastructure. Trump’s selective approach to human rights issues is not motivated by humanitarian concern but by advancing political interests and securing the support of specific electoral bases.

This duality not only reflects the instrumentalisation of ethical values but is part of a broader pattern of politicising human rights on a global scale. In a world facing challenges such as poverty, displacement, and widespread violence, such approaches primarily undermine trust in the human rights discourse. Moreover, using human rights concepts for political objectives neither helps resolve crises nor reduces tensions; instead, it can exacerbate social and political conflicts.

In recent years, Trump has repeatedly referred to the issue of “white genocide” in South Africa, presenting it as a human rights crisis. This claim is rooted in an old and discredited theory alleging that white farmers (Afrikaners) in South Africa are systematically targeted by the Black majority for violence and murder. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, this narrative has been promoted by certain groups as part of a “white victimization” discourse in right-wing circles. During a diplomatic meeting with the South African president, Trump presented images as evidence of this “genocide,” which were later proven to be fake and originated from mass graves in the Democratic Republic of Congo, unrelated to South Africa.

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