Influence of Trump on South Africa Persists: Musk Departure Leaves His Presence in the White House
In his third presidential campaign, Donald Trump's connections to South Africa's apartheid era have come under scrutiny. Critics have noted the presence of white, male advisors around Trump, several of whom were formed in the racially-charged regime of South Africa.
The term "PayPal Mafia" emerged at the start of the century to describe a group of young, ambitious mathematicians who created the payment platform. These individuals later dispersed, with many founding or holding prominent positions in other technology companies. In 2007, Fortune magazine published a report on the PayPal Mafia, highlighting their impact: they built various investment companies, solar energy firms, electric car companies, and even a Mars colonization venture, in addition to numerous internet companies.
Four out of the 16 members in the PayPal Mafia's iconic 2007 photo have connections to apartheid-era South Africa. Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, and Roelof Botha are all associated with this period in South African history. Three of these four—Musk, Thiel, and Sacks—hold positions in Trump's second presidency.
Elon Musk, the wealthiest and most famous of the four, was born in Pretoria and educated among the white English-speaking elites. He left South Africa during the unrest of the black population in 1989, though he did not reside in the country during the democratic era under Nelson Mandela and his successors. Musk has been a vocal critic of affirmative action laws in South Africa, which impose conditions on him regarding his internet satellite company, Starlink.
Peter Thiel, often referred to as the "Godfather" of PayPal, is another influential figure. Born in Germany but raised in South Africa, Thiel has never hidden his nationalist ideology. He opposes liberal democracies and, in a controversial statement, expressed his belief that freedom and democracy are incompatible. Thiel has been a significant donor to Trump's campaign since 2016 and is reportedly linked to more than a dozen people in the White House.
David Sacks, another prominent PayPal alumnus, was born in Cape Town. Trump has appointed him as the "czar" overseeing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies. Sacks and Trump share an intellectual and economic interest in these areas, along with a shared disdain for regulations proposed by Joe Biden.
The influence of this South African quartet in Trump's policies remains a topic of debate. While some critics see a clear connection, others believe it is an oversimplification of the situation. What is notable, however, is the common ground between apartheid-era South Africa and the bold, libertarian minds in Trump's inner circle.
During a visit to the White House, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa faced questions about white South African farmers seeking refuge in the United States, raising accusations of genocide against the white farming community. Ramaphosa, a seasoned politician who suffered repression during the apartheid era, handled the situation calmly, presenting evidence contradicting the claims and introducing white members of his delegation to support his stance. Despite Trump's assertion that the farmers' race would not impact their resettlement, his refugee policy over the past four months has notably slowed or halted the entry of refugees from various countries.
South Africa's denunciation of Israel's actions in Gaza to the International Criminal Court has also contributed to tensions between the two nations.
[Enrichment Data]- Resettlement Program: The Trump administration has approved nearly 60 white South African farmers for resettlement, citing claims of persecution and violence.- Land Expropriation Concerns: Trump and some Afrikaner groups have expressed fears about potential land confiscation under new laws, despite no land actually being expropriated.- Diplomatic Tensions: Trump's stance on these issues has resulted in diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Africa.
- The Fortune magazine's 2007 report on the PayPal Mafia highlighted that Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, and Roelof Botha, all with connections to apartheid-era South Africa, have built various companies including investment firms, solar energy companies, and electric car companies.
- Three of the four aforementioned PayPal Mafia members—Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks—currently hold positions in Trump's second presidency, raising questions about the influence of apartheid-era South Africa on Trump's policies.
