President Donald Trump faced scrutiny on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after mistakenly confusing South America with South Africa during a speech at the America Business Forum in Miami, Florida. The misstatement occurred as among the audience were members of the city’s significant Cuban immigrant community, many of whom escaped communist regimes in their countries of origin.
In his remarks, Trump stated, “For generations Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa.” This comment drew immediate attention, as South Africa is located on the African continent and has never been under communist rule, unlike South American nations such as Cuba and Venezuela, which have historical ties to socialist and communist governments.
Trump, seemingly not realizing his error, then abruptly shifted to discussing South Africa, criticizing the nation for what he claims is genocide against white farmers. He announced a boycott of the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg later in November 2025 before returning to his critique of various South American governments.
This speech followed the victory of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Mamdani defeated Trump-endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Trump had previously indicated he might reduce federal funding to New York City if Mamdani won.
During the Miami forum, Trump criticized the New York election results and warned attendees that Miami could “soon be the refuge for those fleeing communism in New York.” He repeatedly labeled Mamdani a “communist” and asserted that America had “lost a little bit of sovereignty” as a result of the election.
The president expressed concern over the implications of Mamdani’s victory, suggesting that it reflected the intentions of Congressional Democrats for the country. He argued that the party had installed a communist in charge of the nation’s largest city and reminded the audience of his past prediction that no socialist would hold public office in America, noting that instead of socialists, communists were now being elected.
Trump also claimed that “the communist, Marxist socialists and globalists” had led to “nothing but disaster” during their time in power. However, he then unexpectedly indicated support for the new mayor. “Now let’s see how a communist does in New York. We’re going to see how that works out. And we’ll help them. We’ll help them,” Trump stated.
The president marked the one-year anniversary of his November 2024 election victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, asserting that his administration had revitalized the economy and saved the country “on that magnificent night 365 days ago.” He then performed dance moves on stage before the audience.
In response to Trump’s threats regarding federal funding cuts, Mamdani addressed Trump directly in his victory speech Tuesday night, saying: “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up!” The new mayor-elect, an immigrant himself, declared that “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”
Following Mamdani’s victory, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, writing simply, “And so it begins.” He later referenced pollsters’ claims that Republicans lost because of the government shutdown and because he was not on the ballot.
The Miami speech took place amid ongoing issues concerning Trump’s tariff policies and the prolonged government shutdown, which was the longest in American history. The confusion over geography added to a challenging week for the administration, which is facing multiple federal court rulings against its policies, including decisions blocking certain tariff implementations and requiring the release of SNAP benefits to millions of Americans.
The South Africa-South America confusion quickly spread across social media, with critics pointing out the president’s apparent lack of geographic knowledge. This incident heightened concerns about Trump’s understanding of international affairs as he contemplates skipping the G20 summit and navigating complex trade negotiations with multiple countries.
