South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken with billionaire Elon Musk regarding “misinformation and distortions about South Africa,” the presidency announced on Tuesday.

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During the discussion, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to constitutional principles, including the rule of law, justice, fairness, and equality.

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The call took place on Monday, a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to South Africa over claims of mistreatment of White farmers.

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In a post on Truth Social, Trump demanded a full investigation into allegations that South Africa was seizing land and discriminating against certain groups. He described the situation as involving “massive” human rights violations but did not provide evidence.

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Ramaphosa denied claims that the government was confiscating land, emphasizing South Africa’s willingness to engage with the Trump administration on its land reform policies.

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Trump’s remarks echo similar concerns he raised in 2018 about South Africa’s land redistribution efforts. Under apartheid, racist laws forced Black and non-White South Africans off their land, reserving it for White ownership. Since the country’s transition to democracy in 1994, the government has pursued land reform to address historical injustices.

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Despite these efforts, economic inequality remains stark, with Black South Africans, who make up around 80% of the population, owning only a small share of the land.

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Last month, Ramaphosa signed a new law outlining conditions for land expropriation, including cases where compensation might not be required.

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Musk, a South African-born billionaire and the head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, has previously criticized Ramaphosa’s policies. On Monday, he accused the president of enforcing “openly racist ownership laws” in a post on X, the platform he owns.

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Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s legal framework, stating that, like many other nations, the country balances land expropriation for public use with property rights protection.

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In response to Trump’s threat to cut aid, Ramaphosa pointed out that aside from a major HIV/AIDS relief initiative, U.S. financial support to South Africa is minimal.

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