• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 27, 2025

Trump Celebrates Memorial Day By Bashing Biden and Outlining His Embarrassing 2nd Term ‘Accomplishments’

Trump started his holiday by referring to Biden and his administration as “scum” who tried to destroy the country in a lengthy rant with limited punctuation.

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President Donald Trump spent his first Memorial Day of his second presidential term both online and outside as he honored fallen military members and took jabs at former President Joe Biden.

Before making a speech at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, Trump started his holiday by referring to Biden and his administration as “scum” who tried to destroy the country in a lengthy rant with limited punctuation. The 47th president claimed the Biden-Harris administration “allowed 21 million people to illegally enter our country” and blamed judges “who are on a mission to keep murderers, drug dealers, rapists, gang members and released prisoners from all over the world, in our country.”

Once he got those feelings off his chest, Trump switched gears while standing at the podium while being supported by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump doubled down on his support of Hegseth, who has had several troubled hours on the job since taking office, labeling him as “a tough cookie” who “went through a lot.”

Afterwards, he finally paid homage to the fallen service members and their gold-star families, celebrating them for their sacrifice that has shaped the country’s history.

“Their valor gave us the freest, greatest, and most noble republic ever to exist on the face of the Earth,” Trump said. 

“A republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years, that was a hard four years we went through,” he said to cheers.

However, the honor was short-lived as minutes later, he derailed from his speech script to talk about his seemingly favorite subject: himself. 

As the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Trump took the time to highlight his happiness that Biden defeated him in 2020 and how he has “everything,” outlining the World Cup coming to several cities in 2026. “In some ways, I’m glad I missed that second term where it was, because I wouldn’t be your president for that,” he said. 

“Most important of all, in addition, we have the World Cup and we have the Olympics. Can you imagine [if] I missed that four years? And now look what I have. I have everything – amazing, the way things work out. God did that, I believe that too.”

The indicted politician is known for deviating from the script, talking about himself, and offering unprecedented advice to those who didn’t ask. His Memorial Day speech came just two days after giving the commencement service remarks to the graduates at the US Military Academy at West Point.

While wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, according to CNN, Trump spoke about the importance of not marrying “trophy wives” and touched on the graduates being the first to serve in the “golden age” of the military.

“The job of the U.S. armed forces is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures (and) spread democracy to everybody around the world at the point of a gun,” the president said. 

“The military’s job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime and any place.”

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• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 27, 2025

Yaaas! ‘Love Is Blind’ FanFaves AD & Lauren Share Back-2-Back Pregnancy Announcements

Lauren and Cameron Hamilton from the hit show's first season announced their long-awaited pregnancy.

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Love Is Blind is revealing new additions to the show’s growing universe. Two of the Netflix reality show’s hit couples have announced pregnancies in back-to-back posts.

A fan-favorite couple from the show’s initial season, Cameron and Lauren Hamilton, have been outspoken about their pregnancy journey. The two hit things off “sight unseen,” the show’s signature phrase, making it down the aisle at the end of its first season.

The couple has remained strong since 2018, undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to grow their family. Now, the Hamiltons have a bundle of joy on the way as a symbol of their atypical love story.

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A post shared by Lauren Speed-Hamilton (@need4lspeed)

“We were counting down the days ‘til we could test because we did IVF,” Cameron told People in an interview published May 26. “We did the classic test, and we both went into the bathroom to look.”

He continued, “We saw the word pregnant. That was just a huge moment, to actually see the word pregnant on the test.”

“I fell to my knees and cried,” added Lauren. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve literally been trying to get pregnant for four years.”

However, they are not the only Love Is Blind couple expecting a child. Another favorite, Amber Desiree “AD” Smith, also announced her pregnancy with fiancé Ollie Sutherland. While the two were on different seasons and versions of the hit show, they met while filming season 3 of Netflix’s Perfect Match.

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A post shared by Amber Desiree (AD) (@amberdesiree)

The duo announced their engagement in March, surprising fans and castmates. While Sutherland, who starred in season 1 of Love Is Blind UK, hails from London, the couple has a wedding to plan for as well.

“You’re my best friend, you’re the love of my life. I’ve never felt as happy as I have since I’ve met you,” Ollie said during the proposal. “Nothing would make me happier than spending the rest of my life loving you.”

While both couples have already proven that their love is blind, they are celebrating baby bliss as they enter this new era of their lives.

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• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 27, 2025

California Cop Accused Of Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Civilians Won’t Face Jail Time

John Sanzone reportedly stole $3,500 from a homeless man.

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A California cop won’t face any jail time for allegedly stealing from civilians. The district attorney said losing his job was punishment enough.

John Sanzone, a white sheriff’s deputy in Glenn County, accepted a plea agreement to dismiss his felony charge of grand theft by embezzlement. According to Atlanta Black Star, he was accused of stealing thousands from multiple vulnerable civilians, including $3,500 from a homeless man.

Sanzone will relinquish his state law enforcement certification. The dismissal of the felony charge means he will not have to serve a three-year prison term.

The accusations came to light in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a Black police officer at the Oroville Police Department in 2022. Sanzone had worked at the department for 10 years, rising to the rank of sergeant despite the mounting allegations against him.

The lawsuit accused Sanzone of not only stealing from civilians but mishandling evidence and refusing to respond to high-level calls. The Black sergeant who called out Sanzone’s violations also claimed to have faced retaliation for doing so. Sanzone later moved on to the Glenn County’s Sheriff’s Office.

Sanzone joined the sheriff’s office in 2021, but was fired nine months later over the accusations that he stole from a homeless man. He was later arrested in May 2023.

Despite his plea agreement, Sanzone could become a police officer in another state. Naysayers on Facebook condemned the prosecution’s decision not to pursue harsher punishment against the disgraceful cop.

“Seems like there’s a pattern here. Glenn County shouldn’t have even hired him! He’ll just move to another state & do the same thing. It’s sad when you can’t even trust the police,” wrote commenter Faylene Jarman.

“Just shows the actual level of corruption in this county when a cop steals from a homeless man and walks free,” added a commenter named Corrine Green.

Despite calls to ensure Sazonne cannot continue police work, the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office defended the decision.

“He did not walk free. He will never be a peace officer in California in his lifetime because of the criminal investigation. Many criminals will just do jail time or pay a fine…not lose their jobs. This person lost his job and career.”

However, issues regarding “wandering cops” remain prevalent across the country. Some police officers removed from the force can end up working in other states, regardless of the severity of their crimes.

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• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 27, 2025

Man Vs. Nature: North Carolina Man Strangles Rabid Coyote With Bare Hands In Fight For Survival

Pulliam and neighbors say they have seen coyotes in the distance but this time something seemed off.

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A Black man from Roxboro, North Carolina, can add superhero to his list of accomplishments after he took matters into his own hands and strangled a coyote, which later tested positive for rabies, ABC 11 reports. 

James Pulliam came face to face with the fierce beast May 16 while taking a smoke break by his apartment complex entrance. Pulliam and neighbors say they have seen coyotes in the distance, but this time, something seemed off.

“I felt something watching me…I just felt like he was hunting me or something,” Pulliam said. 

And then one came out of the nearby woods and attacked him. The Roxboro resident tried to fend him off, kicking and throwing rocks, but then he fell to the ground, allowing the coyote to move in closer and bite Pulliam a few times.

“He jumped on me and I caught him in the air, he was biting me, and so when I threw him down, I’m trying to slide out of the way, he just kept coming,” he said.

After his screams went unheard, Pulliam physically pulled his hand out of the coyote’s mouth and started to choke him. “I just grabbed [him] by the throat,” he said. “I was on top of him and put my knee in his throat. And I ain’t let go. I had my hand on his throat and my knee on his throat,” the man said, according to WRAL News. 

Someone near the incident called the police. Pulliam said when law enforcement arrived, the animal was dead. 

Pulliam went to a local hospital to have his injuries taken care of, but will have to go back for a series of shots since the bite later tested positive for rabies. Pulliam doesn’t see himself as a hero, even though he said he didn’t want the animal to attack anyone else. He feels people won’t believe what happened; however, on social media, people are praising him for his bravery.

One user said, “Give this man a medal,” while another said, “Damn, bro, he’s a legend in my book.” 

@Therainvvs reminded people that Black people aren’t the ones coyotes want to play with. “That’s wild that Coyote ain’t know black folks don’t play,” the user wrote. 

While Pulliam hasn’t been officially diagnosed with rabies, he will be examined. Any person, like Pulliam, who has been exposed to rabies should seek rabies vaccinations immediately. Rabies symptoms include nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, and confusion, similar to the flu. The Mayo Clinic defines rabies as a deadly virus normally spread to people through the saliva of infected animals, with no effective treatment. Coyotes are included in the list of U.S.-based animals, such as foxes, bats, stray dogs, raccoons, and skunks, known to carry.

But Pulliam says it was a simple matter of the animal or him.

“I was afraid, don’t get me wrong, but it’s either me or him,” Pulliam said.

Wildlife experts encourage North Carolina residents to make loud noises and wave their arms to scare rabies-positive or rabies-negative coyotes away if they ever encounter one.

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• News

by Mary Spiller

May 27, 2025

House Republicans Push to Drop SNAP Dependent ‘Exemption’ Age From 18 To 7

Republicans received pushback during last week's Agriculture Committee meeting.

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House Republicans are pushing to make a significant change to the legal cut-offs surrounding the claiming of dependent and work requirement exemptions under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As it stands, a child must be under the age of 18. However, in the agriculture section of the Republican reconciliation bill, it has been proposed that the age be drastically lowered.

In a May 21 Agriculture Committee meeting, House Republicans proposed changing the SNAP age of dependency to 7, excluding those older from receiving assistance.

The proposed change caused an outpouring of pushback from Democrats who disagreed with the institution of harsher restrictions on state cost-sharing policies.

Rep. Angie Craig, a ranking member, said during the hearing, “This is one of the most egregious parts of this entire package. I honestly can’t understand how my Republican colleagues can think it’s a good idea to take food away and put more pressure on families who have 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-year-olds. I mean, it’s almost like nobody’s got a 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-year-old.”

Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown from Ohio agreed and pushed for an amendment to the controversial text.

Brown added, “Let’s have an honest conversation about what these provisions mean. They punish single parents, and they punish caregivers of school-age children, families who are already doing everything they can to stay afloat right now.

Brown referenced a provision included in the Republicans’ proposal, which applies an exemption from the rule alteration for married adults who are “responsible for a dependent child 7 years of age or older” as long as their spouse is working a SNAP policy-compliant job.

Brown pressed at the hearing, “What is that about? Because to me, it seems to tell single-parent families, which make up around 21% of all SNAP households, that they’re less deserving of health because they don’t have a partner, their kids matter less. Is that what we’re saying?”

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides federal assistance to families who qualify.

According to a statement delivered to NOTUS, Brown said of the SNAP changes, “Anyone with common sense knows that an 8-year-old and 9-year-old does not have the capacity to take care of themselves, to fend for themselves… We’re putting parents in some very uncomfortable and impossible decisions to be able to take care of their families. And I don’t think that that’s wise or right.”

During the Agriculture Committee meeting, Democratic Rep. Josh raised concerns about the seemingly arbitrarily chosen age of 7 to decrease the dependency cut-off too. Riley accused proposal writers of choosing the number without adequate thought.

Riley pointed out, “What I’m having a really hard time understanding is how did y’all came up with the transition of 6 to 7? Like, what is the big thing that happens when you go from 6 years old to 7 years old that justifies changing the law? I don’t know the answer, because we didn’t have any hearings.”

GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa defended the proposal, explaining, “The concept that’s being lost here is that if all your children are 7 years or older, they’re in school for about seven hours per day, five days a week, generally in round numbers. So it’s 35 hours a week, that will give the parent or parents time to do something outside the home.”

He asked rhetorically, “It’s just a matter of, are we gonna have a genuine conversation? Or are we gonna have a bunch of flying rhetoric like has been there, that somehow Republicans are taking away the status of a minor from 17 down to 7?”

Ultimately, the new SNAP proposal stirred up disagreements between the parties, with many democrats pointing out that they were not involved in any hearings about the provisions included in the SNAP proposals.

Concerns have arisen about making such a drastic change without a formal hearing.

Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson concluded in his final remarks on the SNAP amendment during the Agriculture Committee meeting, “If you want a true definition of oppression, what is cruel is keeping the families permanently in poverty. That is truly oppression, truly cruel. And we’re trying to make sure that that does not occur.”

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• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 27, 2025

3 More Prisoners Captured From New Orleans Jailbreak

Lenton Vanburen was caught in Baton Rouge, while Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested in Walker County, Texas

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Three fugitives who escaped from a New Orleans jail May 16 have been recaptured, bringing the number of escapees, out of 10, to eight returned to police custody.

According to social media postings by Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana, two of the escaped prisoners were discovered in Texas. She also announced that a third was rearrested in Baton Rouge, leaving only two men still free after the 10 prisoners escaped from Orleans Parish Correctional Facility in what has been described as the biggest jailbreak in the state’s history.

All three men were captured May 26. The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested Lenton Vanburen in Baton Rouge. At the same time, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested in Walker County, Texas.

Update: On May 26, 2025, three of the remaining fugitives were taken into custody.

Lenton Vanburen was arrested in Baton Rouge by the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested in Walker County, Texas by the Texas Department of Public Safety. pic.twitter.com/8I3dcWGUAW

— LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) May 27, 2025

Murrill stated that Vanburen was initially jailed on charges of parole violation, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal carrying of a weapon.

🚨CAPTURED: Inmate Lenton Vanburen is now back in custody. He was picked up in Baton Rouge. I’m very proud of our DOJ Fugitive Apprehension Unit’s work with our partners in @BRPD and @LAStatePolice. Vanburen was originally incarcerated on charges of parole violation, possession… pic.twitter.com/M2J2LOJpn5

— Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) May 26, 2025

The attorney general also said that Tate was incarcerated initially on charges of burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal carrying of a weapon. He has been jailed for attempted second-degree murder. Donald was jailed on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

🚨UPDATE: Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were just arrested in Walker County, Texas by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

– Tate was originally incarcerated on charges of burglary, possession of firearm by felon, and illegal carrying of weapon. He also has criminal history… https://t.co/wWpchLEdll

— Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) May 27, 2025

Louisiana State Police have also announced that several people have been arrested in connection with the prison outbreak at the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility.

• Politics

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 27, 2025

Former U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel Dies At 94

Rangel supported the upliftment of Harlem throughout his career while still promoting international causes.

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Former U.S. Representative and global leader Charles B. Rangel has passed away at the age of 94.

Born in Harlem in 1930 to a Puerto Rican father and a Black American mother, Rangel became known as a long-time U.S. congressman. He served in this role for 23 terms, marking 46 years as a representative of New York’s 13th congressional district. During his tenure, the “Lion of Lenox Avenue” sponsored 40 bills while becoming the first Black and Puerto Rican chair of the House’s Ways and Means Committee. He also served as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Before his appointment to Congress in 1970, Rangel served in the military. The decorated war hero received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service during the Korean War. His family announced the news of his passing on Memorial Day. They noted his lifelong career of serving others and championing social causes.

“A towering figure in American politics and a champion for justice, equity, and opportunity, Congressman Rangel dedicated over four decades of his life to public service,” the Rangel family said in a statement, as reported by CBS News.

“Throughout his career, Congressman Rangel fought tirelessly for affordable housing, urban revitalization, fair tax policies, and equal opportunities for all Americans.”

Rangel’s advocacy started in Harlem. As part of Harlem’s proclaimed “Gang of Four” coalition, alongside Basil Patterson, Percy Sutton, Herman “Denny” Farrell, and former Mayor David Dinkins, he helped dismantle racial and class barriers to uplift the diverse communities within the neighborhood. He also played a leading role in the creation of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation to boost the economic presence of Harlem.

As a global voice for change, Rangel played a key role in developing policies that benefited international causes. His “Rangel Amendment” in 1987 denied tax credits to U.S. companies invested in South Africa during apartheid. His work also boosted U.S. trade relations, building opportunities with developing nations in the Caribbean and Africa.

Following his retirement in 1971, Rangel remained committed to serving his hometown while continuing to amplify his global leadership. In 2002, he established the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs program to provide opportunities and resources for students interested in pursuing a career in foreign service.

“There are many who will attempt to imitate, but the great Charlie Rangel will never be replicated,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Whether in the United States Army, the federal courtroom, the halls of Congress or the streets of Harlem, Congressman Rangel led a life of public service that is second to none. The prayers of a grateful nation are with his family and the legions who loved this iconic leader. May Charles B. Rangel forever rest in Power.”

The Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service resides at the City College of New York. Now, the center honors the legacy of a man committed to a lifetime of civic duty. He is survived by his wife, Alma, their two children, and three grandchildren.

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Rangel’s statement reflected his unshakable might and resilience.

“If I’m gone, quite frankly, I don’t give a damn.”

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• Business

by Mary Spiller

May 27, 2025

The Lip Bar’s Target Sales Are Definitely Down, CEO Melissa Butler Confirms

Butler stated her Black-owned business has seen a 30% decrease in sales in Target.

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The founder and CEO of successful Black-owned makeup brand The Lip Bar took to social media to confirm that sales have been down since the start of the Target boycott earlier this year. Melissa Butler stated that her beauty brand’s sales at the big-name retailer have dropped 30% since the boycott started in response to Target rolling back its DEI initiatives.

In a clip reposted on May 25, Butler encouraged people to buy from Black-owned businesses like The Lip Bar through other channels to make up the difference.

Detroit-born Butler began the video, “It is so crazy to me when people ask me, like, how our Target business is doing, and then I tell them that it’s terrible that people are shocked. They’re like, oh my God.”

She continued to reveal how much The Lip Bar’s sales have plummeted at Target.

“I’m like, yeah, our sales are down 30, 40%. Like that’s exactly what we thought was going to happen.”

Butler assured fans of the beauty brand that the drop was not unexpected but an anticipated side effect of supporting the Target boycott.

“And that’s not to say that people should continue or go back to shopping at Target. It’s just to say that we knew that there was going to be a huge impact, and to offset the impact, it requires people to be really intentional about where they are shopping,” Butler said.

She explained, “Meaning you have to go directly to that business, either to that business’s website or shopping them in other channels. But like we knew that that was going to happen.”

As previously reported, earlier this year, patrons began boycotting Target after the company removed all of its related diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the country. The move was made to better align the retailer with President Donald Trump’s current push to remove DEI across federal entities.

According to the company, the boycott and tariffs imposed during Trump’s presidency led to a steep fall in sales last quarter.

Butler concluded in her video, “The question is, can businesses sustain in the event that people don’t go back to Target, period? So, like, where do the dollars come from? It is so crazy.”

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• News

by Mary Spiller

May 27, 2025

CNN Anchor Boldly Clocks Republican Analyst’s Lies On Nonexistent White South African Genocide

Abby Phillip's questioned Jennings' support of President Donald Trump's "White Genocide" in South Africa rhetoric.

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CNN anchor Abby Phillip and Republican analyst Scott Jennings got into it over President Donald Trump’s recent Oval Office rant about a “white genocide” in South Africa. During a May 21 segment on CNN NewsNight, Phillips joined Jennings and fellow panelists Elise Labott, Charles Blow, Ashley Allison, Shermichael Singleton, and Tara Palmeri to discuss the recent refugee controversy.

The context that sparked the heated debate between Phillips and the Republican Jennings ensued after President Trump publicly insinuated that White South Africans are being subjected to “genocide” and claimed that they need to be accepted as refugees, while turning away other suffering groups.

In the segment of CNN NewsNight, Jennings defended Trump’s rhetoric, claiming that white farmers were being targeted in South Africa.

When Phillip pushed back with data supporting her rebuttal, the CNN anchor finally asked Jennings in a heated debate, “Why are you only concerned about white people?”

Phillips began, “This is straight out of the conspiracy land of the far right, and it is not based in fact. And it’s amazing that this has actually become the foreign policy of the United States based on just straight up — I mean, we have the numbers. It is completely unsubstantiated.”

Jennings pushed back, “You’re saying it’s not true that some white farmers have been murdered.”

Phillip quickly clarified, “No, it’s not true that there is a genocide against White farmers…How many white farmers have been murdered in South Africa?”

Jennings stated on the broadcast that he did not know, allowing Phillip to continue, “I know why you don’t know? Because those numbers don’t exist broken down by race.”

When Phillip questioned Jennings on how many Black farmers have been killed recently in South Africa, the 47-year-old conservative responded, “Look, you guys are so triggered over 59 [dead] people.”

Phillip cited the South African police as she pulled data to respond.

“There are 19,000 murderers in South Africa, 36 were on farms. Seven of them were victims of farmers, okay? The other 29 victims who were included in the farm killings were farm employees who tended to be Black. So, the vast majority of people killed on farms in South Africa are Black. Where is the concern about them?”

Jennings doubled down on supporting Trump’s viewpoint, alleging that the American government is concerned about white farmers experiencing violence overseas.

Phillip finally questioned Jennings upfront, asking, “Why are you only concerned about white people?”

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Jennings explained that he was focused only on white people because, “They’re getting status, and now everybody’s freaking out about it.”

Fellow panelists finally began to chime in during the debate, fact-checking Jennings and expressing that “There’s no evidence that white people have been targeted.”

Many of the tensions discussed in the CNN episode by Jennings and Phillip began during a May 21 bilateral meeting in the Oval Office between President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Things got heated after a reporter questioned Trump on clarifying the refugee policy. Trump responded by displaying a video during the meeting, accusing South Africa of conducting a “White Genocide.”

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