Kathrine Frich
Kleinhaus admitted to owning the account in question,
Kleinhaus admitted to owning the account in question,
Linked to Antisemitic Content
Charl Kleinhaus, a white South African recently granted refugee status by the Trump administration, has been linked to a series of antisemitic and racist posts on social media.
The revelations are raising serious questions about the administration’s vetting process, and accusations of hypocrisy, as the same government cracks down on pro-Palestinian activists for allegedly promoting hate.
From “Untrustworthy Jews” to Applauding Hate Speech
In 2023, Kleinhaus posted on X that “Jews are untrustworthy and a dangerous group.”
In another post, he shared a now-deleted YouTube video celebrating violent action against migrants in Poland, captioning it with applause emojis.
He also promoted the conspiracy theory that white South Africans are victims of a racial “genocide”, a claim strongly denied by the South African government and widely discredited by experts.
Blames Medication
Kleinhaus admitted to owning the account in question, confirming his identity to The Bulwark and The New York Times.
However, he insisted he was not antisemitic, and bizarrely claimed that one post was written “by mistake” while under the influence of medication.
Despite his documented online history, Kleinhaus was among the first 59 white South African Afrikaners flown to the U.S. this week under Trump’s executive order.
Trump’s Anti-Palestinian Deportation Campaign
The controversy arrives amid the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to arrest and deport pro-Palestinian protesters and immigrants.
Officials have cited antisemitism as a key justification for the crackdown.
DHS has even introduced a new policy to screen immigrants’ social media for “antisemitic sentiment” as part of the visa and asylum process.
Yet, Kleinhaus was admitted with full refugee protections.
“We Left for Safety,” Says the Mining Executive
Upon arrival at Dulles International Airport, Kleinhaus told The New York Times:
“We packed up and left [South Africa] for safety reasons.”
His LinkedIn profile identifies him as a mining executive, raising further questions about whether he meets the refugee threshold typically reserved for individuals fleeing imminent danger or persecution.
Episcopal Church Pulls Out of U.S. Refugee Program
The Trump administration’s decision to prioritize white Afrikaner refugees has already triggered backlash.
The Episcopal Church announced it will end its partnership with the federal refugee program in protest.
“It was painful to see how a group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual way, received preferential treatment,” said Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the church’s presiding bishop.
A Controversial Order, Backed by Elon Musk
In February, Trump signed an executive order granting refugee status to Afrikaners, claiming they face systemic persecution.
The order echoed a false “white genocide” narrative promoted by Trump’s key ally and top donor, Elon Musk, also a South African native.
This group is being fast-tracked, while thousands of others, often non-white or stateless, remain stuck in refugee camps or under threat in conflict zones.
DHS: We Screen All Applicants
A senior DHS official issued a brief statement:
“All asylum seekers are screened. Allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken, if necessary.”
However, the department has declined to comment on Kleinhaus’ individual case.
