WorldSPECIAL REPORT

US officials weigh ad campaign urging Afrikaners to emigrate

An August State Department proposal seen by the Guardian would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn why so few Afrikaners are applying; the campaign is unapproved.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on BBN This Morning
Published 6:17 AM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “US officials considering ad campaign to urge South African Afrikaners to emigrate”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:17 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
Topics: African, South, US.
BBN covered this story before: 7,600 dogs still held at South Korean meat farms (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The GuardianUS officials considering ad campaign to urge South African Afrikaners to emigrate

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThis is a BBN special report: the US government is weighing a media campaign in South Africa to find out why more white Afrikaners are not applying to become refugees in America.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Guardian reports, in an exclusive, that State Department officials outlined the idea in an August proposal, and that it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd why was the government hoping for more applicants in the first place?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPresident Trump has claimed that Afrikaners face white genocide in South Africa.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Guardian says that claim is false, and that very few Afrikaners have actually applied to live in the US.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the money would go toward finding out why the program has fewer takers than the administration expected, and what messaging might change that.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt's a proposal at this stage, not a final decision, and the story is a notable one for diplomacy and immigration policy alike.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat to watch next is whether the State Department approves the spending, and how South Africa's government responds if it does.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the plan is a hundred thousand dollars of advertising to ask people why they ignored the advertising.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe proposal says hundreds of thousands, Vera.