In Wednesday’s bout, President Donald Trump was in the red corner, facing off against his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. The guest had come for talks about trade and investment. He found himself in the diplomatic equivalent of an arm and head choke.

Mr Ramaphosa kept his cool. But the episode underlined Donald Trump’s warped views of South Africa—and how hard it will be to change them. The Trump administration has cut aid to Africa’s largest economy and seems set to cancel the preferential trade terms enjoyed by South Africa (and many other countries in the continent).