The United States has announced it will not send any government officials to the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, with President Donald Trump citing what he describes as ongoing human rights violations in the country.
The summit is set to take place in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23. Trump had previously questioned South Africa’s place in the G20 and suggested he might send Vice-President JD Vance in his place. But his latest statement makes it clear that no American representative will attend.
Calling the decision a stand against alleged abuses, Trump said it was “a total disgrace” for the G20 to be hosted in South Africa. He claimed that members of the Afrikaner community were being killed and that their land was being taken illegally. He added that the United States would only participate again when he hosts the 2026 G20 meeting in Miami.
Since returning to office earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of carrying out discrimination and even “genocide” against the white minority. In one confrontation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump attempted to present what he said was evidence of mass killings. However, the material he used turned out to be unrelated video footage from another country.
South African authorities have firmly rejected the allegations, describing them as false and unsupported. Officials maintain that claims of a white genocide have been widely disproven and do not reflect the reality on the ground.
The U.S. withdrawal from the summit adds fresh tension to an already strained relationship and raises questions about diplomatic cooperation among G20 members. As preparations for the global meeting continue, South Africa has yet to respond formally to the U.S. decision.