As the geographical spread of US President Donald Trump’s pronouncements increases, so do the furrowed worry lines of leaders worldwide. 

Day 14 of the Trump presidency brought threats of a global trade war and news of the likely demise of USAID – the US international aid and development agency.

But the 78-year-old also spent his time complaining that “South Africa is confiscating land” and “certain classes of People” were being treated “VERY BADLY” in a post on his Truth Social website.

He threatened to cut off all future funding to the country until a full investigation is carried out – so, what is actually going on?

Well, Mr Trump has decided to re-energise a far-right cause celebre which rests on the allegation that white people in South Africa are being marginalised – and subjected to “genocide” at the hands of the country’s black majority.

Examples of this alleged behaviour take various forms – including a bill recently signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which gives the government the power to expropriate land without financial compensation.

The law is designed to help redress the impact of decades of white minority rule in South Africa under the apartheid regime.

Three decades after Nelson Mandela led the country into the democratic era, white farmers still own the vast majority of farmland nationwide.

White landowners possess three-quarters of South Africa’s freehold farmland, compared with 4% for black landowners. Black people make up about 80% of South Africa’s total population while about 8% are white.

The new legislation limits land expropriation to circumstances where it is “just and equitable and in the public interest” to do so – for example, situations where the property is not being used – or attempts to reach a financial settlement with the owner have failed.

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In response to the president’s missive, Mr Ramaphosa mounted the following response: “The South African government has not confiscated any land.

“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner.”

The second part of the genocide claim is fuelled by the number of violent attacks on landowners in rural areas.

Right-wing groups in South Africa say white farmers are targeted because of their race while the authorities do little – or nothing – to protect them.

However, analysts say farm attacks reflect the country’s desperately high rates of violent crime.

One thing is certain – Mr Trump’s comments on South Africa land ownership reflect the influence that South Africa-born billionaire Elon Musk has on the US president.

Responding on X to Ramaphosa’s statement, Mr Musk said South Africa had “openly racist ownership laws,” suggesting white people are the victims.

Donald Trump is set to speak to the leaders of Canada and Mexico later but warned them against retaliating to his tariffs, saying: “We can play the game all they want.”

The US leader has announced that he is imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

The two countries then hit back with retaliatory tariffs.

However, the US president returned to Washington from Mar-a-Lago on Sunday night and brushed aside the reprisals.

“I love the people of Canada. I disagree with the leadership of Canada. And something’s gonna happen there.

“If they want to play the game, I don’t mind. We can play the game all they want.”

Mr Trump also threatened to impose steeper tariffs elsewhere, telling reporters import taxes will “definitely happen” with the European Union.

When asked about potential tariffs on the UK, Mr Trump told reporters “we’ll see what happens”.

He said the UK “is out of line” on trade with US, but was confident the situation “can be worked out” without tariffs.

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Later on he posted on his Truth Social platform: “Anybody that’s against Tariffs, including the Fake News Wall Street Journal, and Hedge Funds, is only against them because these people or entities are controlled by China, or other foreign or domestic companies.

“Anybody that loves and believes in the United States of America is in favor of Tariffs. They should have never ended, in favor of the Income Tax System, in 1913. The response to Tariffs has been FANTASTIC!”

The Trump administration had said the tariffs are aimed at stopping the spread and manufacturing of the opioid fentanyl, as well as pressuring America’s neighbours to limit illegal immigration to the US.

But it risks a trade war and higher prices for American consumers.

Shares on Asian markets tumbled in early trade on Monday and US equity futures pointed sharply lower in the wake of Mr Trump’s imposition of tariffs.

Japan’s Nikkei opened down 2% this morning, with large falls also reported on Taiwan and South Korea’s indices.

“Trump’s trade war has started,” said Alvin Tan, head of Asia currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets in Singapore.

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Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump said any potential pain caused by the trade war would be worth it.

“Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!). It will all be worth the price that must be paid.”

Meanwhile, Canada’s high commissioner to the UK Ralph Goodale, speaking to Sky News’ Kamali Melbourne, had a warning for allies.

He said: “I would just say to our allies around the world watch this closely, you could be next, and in the meantime, stand by your friends.”

He added Mr Trump’s words were a “salesman’s pitch” and despite the historically close relationship between the countries “we don’t want to be each other”.

Donald Trump claims this tariff gut-punch at his three largest trading partners is just a matter of common sense.

They in turn are imploring him to see reason, with Mexico and China calling for dialogue and cooperation.

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Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday night – as he announced a reciprocal 25% tariff on $106bn worth of American goods – that the last time he had spoken directly with the US president was at Mar-a-Lago before the inauguration.

Much good that visit did him.

President Trump is defying the wisdom of decades that free trade encourages growth and prosperity in an interconnected global economy.

He is intent on rebalancing trade deficits, bringing manufacturing home and encouraging foreign investors to set up shop in the US.

His justification for tariffs is that they will force Mexico, China and Canada to halt the influx of fentanyl, its precursor chemicals and illegal migrants into the US.

Mexico is already working hard on both measures.

One of the few areas of diplomatic engagement with China over recent years has been the resumption of cooperation on counter-narcotics.

And as the Canadian prime minister said yesterday, only 1% of illegal fentanyl or illegal immigration crosses into the US via that northern border, and Canada is taking additional measures to reduce that further.

It is surely just a pretext.

Perhaps most alarming to any believer in the sovereignty of nations is the thought that President Trump really means it when he says “Canada should become our cherished 51st state“.

He does not seem to be relenting on his threats against Greenland, after a testy conversation with Denmark’s prime minister where he refused to back down on his demands on the territory.

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His secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is currently in Panama – where Trump has threatened to take the Panama Canal by force.

Break Canada’s economy and this expansionist US president may believe he can bend their will.

Canada has more than just a trade war on its hands.