In a significant diplomatic move, US President Donald Trump has declared that no American government officials will attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa. The announcement came through Trump's Truth Social platform on Friday, where he made serious allegations about human rights violations in the African nation.
Trump's Strong Stance Against South Africa
President Trump did not mince words when explaining his decision to boycott the international gathering. He described the situation in South Africa as "a total disgrace" and specifically pointed to what he called persecution of Afrikaners - people descended from Dutch, French, and German settlers.
"Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated," Trump stated in his social media post. He made it clear that no US Government official would attend the summit "as long as these Human Rights abuses continue."
South Africa's Response and Broader Context
The South African government has firmly denied President Trump's allegations. The foreign ministry spokesperson had not immediately responded to requests for comment following the announcement, but previous statements from the government have rejected similar claims.
This isn't the first time the Trump administration has taken issue with South African policies. The tensions span multiple areas including South Africa's land policy and its case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The relationship between the two countries has been increasingly strained in recent months.
G20 Leadership Transition and Previous Boycotts
The upcoming G20 summit is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg from November 22-23. Notably, Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to represent the United States at the world leaders' gathering, will no longer be attending according to sources familiar with the matter.
This marks the second time US officials have boycotted a G20 meeting in South Africa this year. Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also skipped a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the country that currently holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
Looking ahead, President Trump expressed enthusiasm about the United States taking over the G20 presidency from South Africa, announcing plans to host the 2026 summit in Miami, Florida. The refugee policy dimension adds another layer to this diplomatic stance, as Trump recently set the lowest cap on record for US refugee admissions while indicating priority would be given to white Afrikaners.
