U.S. President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to punish South Africa by signing an executive order stopping all aid and assistance to the country over what he called a human rights violation against a white minority group.

Clear battle lines between South Africa’s Government of National Unity and US President Donald Trump’s new administration have emerged after a week of rising tensions.

Trump's claims about South Africa — some of them inaccurate — came soon after he ordered a 90-day freeze on most global aid, threatening hundreds of millions of dollars the U.S. gives South Africa for its HIV/AIDS program, the largest in the world.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared to respond to threats from U_S_ counterpart Donald Trump by saying in his annual speech to the nation that his country would “not be bullied.”

By Wendell Roelf and Nellie Peyton CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that his country "will not be bullied," days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would cut off funding to South Africa over a land reform act.

South Africa “will not be bullied” by President Donald Trump, the leader of the nation declared in a national speech. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the United States government’s newfound hostility to South Africa’s domestic policies on Thursday during his State of the Union address — stating that his government and people will not buckle under