Summary
- Our number one ranked ‘African’ supporter of Donald Trump will surprise you.
- More than twice the number of Blacks that voted for Trump in 2016 voted for him in 2024.
- 65 percent of Kenyans and 58 percent of Nigerians believed Trump was the best candidate for the presidency.
- Many Africans favour relations with the United States over China and Russia, hence the support.
The November 5, 2024 presidential election in the United States of America was a significant piece of history, not just in the U.S., but globally. No matter where the pendulum swung, history would be made. It was either the 45th president of the United States who ruled the country from 2017 to 2021 that would return four years later, or the country would have its first female president in Kamala Harris.
After the polls, the Republican Party's ticket—Donald Trump and JD Vance, the junior U.S. senator from Ohio—defeated the Democratic Party's ticket—Kamala Harris, the incumbent vice president, and Tim Walz, the 41st governor of Minnesota.
How did a man who lost an election as a sitting president four years before, win back his mandate just after one tenure out? The answer lies in the numbers – the people and demography who shifted ground within the four years of Joe Biden’s reign as president – or between July 21 and November 5, after Joe Biden stepped down from the presidential race for Kamala Harris.
Like in previous elections, the impact of the Electoral College—which are electoral votes by Congress—and Black voters played a significant role in bringing Trump back to power. Many Black Americans and Africans shifted grounds to support Trump, unlike in 2016, 2012, and 2008.
Although they were ineligible to vote, the confidence and support of Africans in Donald Trump’s second year in office contributed immensely to his success. Below, we have highlighted the top 10 Africans who supported and contributed to Donald Trump's presidential campaign victory. Take a look – number one will surprise you!
Top 10 Prominent Africans That Supported and Contributed to Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign Victory
- Freeman Bhengu [South Africa]: Perhaps as a way of gaining favour and forgiveness from the newly elected American President, South African business mogul and opposition figure did not hide his support for Donald Trump and excitement over his victory. He even granted an interview to DW saying that he was happy that Trump had won because he has the "same ideology as South Africa in terms of borders and illegal migration. It gives us a back bone, it gives us more strength to also fight the issue of illegal immigration here in South Africa.” In 2018, Freeman Bhengu faced international investigation after his response to a tweet by then-U.S. President Donald Trump about land expropriation in South Africa. The Soweto businessman called the U.S. embassy saying “If the US interferes in our affairs, then we will bomb the embassy."
- Rigathi Gachagua [Kenya]: Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua is a renowned Kenyan politician who was the 12th deputy president of Kenya from 2022 until his impeachment on October 17, 2024. He served as a Member of Parliament for Mathira from 2017 to 2022, as a member of the Jubilee party. During the campaign process in America, Gachagua did not hide his admiration and support for Donald Trump and was one of the first Africans to congratulate Trump on his victory – even before President Ruto. The impeached Deputy President tagged Trump’s victory as "one of the greatest political comebacks of our generation." It is believed that haven lost his seat as vice president only two years into office, there are rumors Gachagua is looking to make a political comeback and that Trump, who was impeached twice during his first term, could be something of an inspiration.
- Patrice Motsepe [South Africa]: A long-time admirer and supporter of Donald Trump, Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe has never hidden his position on the matter. The South African billionaire businessman and football administrator will forever be remembered for his 'Africa loves Trump' statement which sparked reactions in 2020. One thing that the billionaire businessman did not lie about however was his statements that Trump has become a loved figure in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Recent polls have proved him right, and his support is another reason to believe that there is a strong bond between billionaire businessmen and Donald Trump – and the reason is not far-fetched.
- Julien Paluku Kahongya [DR Congo]: Julien Paluku Kahongya is a Congolese politician who served as governor of the province of North Kivu from 27 January 2007 to 22 February 2019. He is currently the trade minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sources reveal that he is a supporter of Donald Trump and has come out to express his excitement at Trump’s presidential victory. “Under the administration of the new President Donald Trump, we will work for the success of this great forum. It will allow the DRC to demonstrate investment opportunities available, and improve the country's image so that we can attract enough investment to the country," he told DW.
- President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi [Somaliland]: Abdullahi was a prominent opposition leader in Somaliland before his election into office in November, just like Donald Trump. Upon becoming the sixth president of the region, his first promise during his inaugural address was to strengthen foreign policy and intensify efforts to gain international recognition for Somaliland. To achieve this, both Abdullahi and many indigenes of Somaliland are looking up to President Donald Trump. Somaliland seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago, but is not recognized by the African Union, the United Nations or any other country as an independent state. Somalia still considers Somaliland part of its territory. However, there are claims from certain quarters that Donald Trump favours a decision to recognize the break-away territory, which earned him support and popularity in Somaliland.
- H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe [Ethiopia]: Hailemariam is a popular Ethiopian politician who served as prime minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018. He also previously served as deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi from 2010 to 2012. It won’t come as news to many that Hailemariam favours Donald Trump because his party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front shares similar values as the American Republican Party and Donald Trump himself. Hailemariam led the delegation of The African Legacies Institute to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January 2025.
- President John Mahama [Ghana]: It is no surprise that the ‘African Donald Trump’ fancied The Republican candidate to become America’s next president. Both presidential candidates have similar histories and ambitions and Mahama’s campaign team believed that Trump's victory would contribute to boosting the confidence of local voters in Ghana to bring back Mahama. John Mahama, contested and won the 2024 presidential election against then vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, just as Trump contested and won against then vice president Kamala Harris. Also, like a fairy tale, John Mahama, like Donald Trump, has ruled Ghana before as the 12th president from 2012 to 2017.
- Dr. Stanley Uzochukwu [Nigeria]: Notable global figures like the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Germany’s President Olaf Scholz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and French President Emmanuel Macron, were not invited to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of America. But a special invitation letter from the White House signed by the Chairman, of Multicultural Coalition U.S. President Inaugural Ball Committee, Dr, J. Mark Burns was sent to Dr. Staney Uzochukwu, a fairly unknown business tycoon from Nigeria. The invitation is believed to be a testament to Dr. Uzochukwu’s support for Donald Trump. He was also invited as a special guest to the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana on January 7th, 2025.
- David Sacks [South Africa]: Sacks is one of the biggest supporters of Donald Trump and helped the incoming United States president raise over $12 million at a San Francisco fundraiser during the campaigns. A venture capital firm co-founder, David Sacks, has been appointed "Crypto and AI Czar," a newly created position, by President-elect Donald Trump. Sack was a significant figure in the PayPal Mafia, a group of talented graduates dominating the computer scene. He was PayPal’s COO and CEO. After PayPal in 2002, he started Geni.com and helped Yammer’s IPO, which Microsoft acquired for nearly $1 billion in 2012. He will serve under the Trump administration as the Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1972.
- Elon Musk [South Africa]: According to a CNN Report, Elon Musk ploughed at least $260 million into efforts to send Donald Trump back to the White House – a massive infusion that makes him one of the largest single donors to the Trump campaign. He is also one who has made all enemies of Donald Trump his enemy – he fanned British politics into a firestorm by amplifying attacks on Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and platforming Germany’s far right. He has been offered a role in Trump's cabinet and addressed the world during Trump's inauguration on 20 January 2025. Unknown to many, Elon Musk is from South Africa, hence he makes our list. The Western press has done a great job of suppressing the fact that Elon Musk was born in South Africa to a South African father, Errol Musk. Elon left South Africa when he was 17 years old —to avoid conscription in the South African army. Musk’s family wealth is a result of the half-share in a Zambian emerald mine, which Errol acquired in 1980. Also, Elon Musk’s father was a local politician in South Africa and held public office from 1972 to 1983.
Conclusion
It is fair to say that the support from Africans who did not contribute financially to the Trump campaign or could not vote didn’t directly define his success. According to OpenSource, approximately $1.5 trillion was raised globally for Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Trump won 77,284,118 votes or 49.8 percent of the popular votes cast for president. But we cannot deny that popularity plays a major role in the scheme of things in this current dispensation.
It remains for Africa to join the world in anticipating the best in the next four years as Donald Trump takes a second swing as the most powerful man in the world. Other than Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln for their roles in abolishing slavery, there is little that can be attributed to an American president when it comes to Africa – would Donald Trump be an exception at the second time calling?
