President Trump announces no United States officials will attend the November G20 summit, citing alleged human rights abuses in South Africa.
President Donald Trump has announced that no US officials will attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, citing alleged human rights abuses against Afrikaners, a statement that revives claims widely discredited by experts.
Trump had previously indicated in September that Vice President JD Vance would represent the United States at the summit, scheduled for November 22-23, 2025, in Johannesburg. However, he now says the US delegation will skip the meeting entirely.
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “No U.S. Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” He claimed that Afrikaners — descendants of early European settlers — “are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.”
South Africa’s government called the remarks “regrettable” and emphasized that the characterization of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group is “ahistorical.” The foreign ministry also stated that claims of persecution are “not substantiated by fact” and reaffirmed its commitment to hosting a “successful” summit under the theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”
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Trump added that he looked forward to hosting the 2026 G20 summit in the United States, which he plans to hold at his private golf resort in Miami, Florida.
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have been strained under Trump’s current administration. Earlier this year, he played a video to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office alleging a campaign against white farmers, a claim that South Africa denies. The Trump administration also recently announced plans to reduce the annual US refugee intake to 7,500, giving priority to white South Africans.
The US and South Africa have also clashed over international disputes, including South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice regarding alleged atrocities in Gaza. In addition, Trump has imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa maintains that it remains committed to positive global engagement and is “uniquely positioned to champion within the G20 a future of genuine solidarity,” drawing on its transition from apartheid to democracy.
The announcement marks a rare instance in which the US will completely skip a G20 summit, raising questions about the potential impact on multilateral discussions and the broader diplomatic relationship between Washington and Pretoria.