Jason Bartlett: South African asylum seeker and alleged scammer pleads for help from Elon Musk

Jason Bartlett, a South African who moved to the United States in 2019, has sparked widespread attention with a series of videos pleading for help from high-profile figures such as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

Bartlett claims that white South Africans, particularly farmers, are facing violence and persecution in his home country—an issue he deems "atrocious." He suggests that the U.S. could offer asylum to these individuals to escape what he describes as systemic murder and injustice.

In a video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on February 9th, Bartlett thanked Trump and Musk for highlighting the alleged violence in South Africa. He pointed to the expropriation without compensation law signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a turning point for the country's white farmers. Bartlett also criticized left-wing political figures in South Africa, accusing them of downplaying the struggles of white South Africans and misrepresenting the country's situation as peaceful.

The following day, South Africa-born Musk shared Bartlett’s video, amplifying his message to a larger audience. In the video, Bartlett described his asylum journey and portrayed South Africa as a crime-ridden, dangerous country where white citizens, particularly farmers, are victims of systemic violence. He recounted his move to the U.S. in 2019, emphasizing his legal entry and subsequent efforts to establish himself in various roles, including as a golf course superintendent and farmer. Bartlett also suggested that his plea for asylum was driven by the growing threats he faced, especially with the potential for land expropriation without compensation.

In response to Musk reposting his video, Bartlett expressed his gratitude, stating that Musk’s decision to share his message helped "show the world what’s really happening in South Africa." His thanks to Musk helped further boost the visibility of his plea, drawing even more attention to his cause.

The Plot Thickens
 

Bartlett's claims have faced significant scrutiny. On February 10th, a TikTok video from a South African with the username @biancasays3 surfaced, casting doubt on Bartlett’s narrative. In the video, she accused him of running a scam during a previous fundraising campaign called the "Walk Against White Genocide."

According to the Bianca, Buffalo Bartlett raised over $16,000 (R315,000) from South Africans, claiming the funds would support his walk to the White House to address white genocide. She alleges that Bartlett disappeared after collecting the donations, failing to deliver updates or fulfill his promises, and questioned his true intentions.

Users on X, including some of Bartlett’s previous supporters, echoed these concerns, claiming that he never truly arrived in the U.S. as a refugee. They accused him of exploiting their trust and support. Many have also criticized Bartlett for avoiding questions surrounding his past fundraising campaign, which he promoted through his original X account, @buffalobartlett, before it was banned.

While Bartlett continues to garner attention with his videos, Musk's reposting has raised his profile significantly. Despite this, questions about Bartlett's credibility remain, especially considering the allegations of fraud surrounding his past actions.