According to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, Malema met US diplomats in 2007, when he was still a provincial secretary of the ANCYL.
Malema gave strong views on two presidents and scorned the idea of a woman becoming president in the meeting, the Guardian reports.
He discussed the league's support for Jacob Zuma, which was crucial to removing Mbeki from office.
"Julius Malema, who was frank and friendly, started the conversation with stories of his 'young pioneer' days when the ANC taught him how to use a gun 17 years ago, at the tender age of nine.
Support for Zuma
"He then boasted that Limpopo's ANCYL has more members than any other province and is '100% united' in its support of Zuma. Malema never explained why he or the league supports Zuma, but did admit that Zuma would likely not have been picked up by the ANCYL 'if Mbeki hadn't gone after him'.
According to diplomats, Malema stated matter of factly that Zuma is "a victim of a conspiracy".
He said that if Zuma was sent to jail, the youth league would support Kgalema Motlanthe for the presidency. "However, he added that though 'Motlanthe is brilliant, you can't understand anything he says'."
Malema also said that "South Africa needs a 'man who is ahead on issues, but who can walk with the masses'".
Another memo, dated 5 November 2009, was about Malema's media prominence.
Backing from senior leaders
"It has never been adequately answered whether Malema speaks on his own or with backing from senior leaders of the party.
"Regardless of whether his views are sanctioned, however, it is becoming clearer that President Jacob Zuma respects Malema and his place within the movement.
"Malema's continued media prominence begs the question: where is President Zuma on some of these issues?
"One respected political analyst commented to us recently that he would be worried if a Youth League president did not go around sounding off like this, and that having someone saying such things might even serve as something of a safety valve by making disgruntled youth feel that their anger was being heard by the ANC's senior leaders.
"We are nonetheless concerned that, as a generation which does not remember the struggle against apartheid comes to adulthood, they may be less content to accept mere rhetoric to express their anger at what they may see as continuing inequality."
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Mbeki-thought-he-was-too-clever-Malema-20101209