Trump claims that no representative of the US administration will go to the G20 meeting in South Africa
President Donald Trump declared on Friday that due to “human rights abuses” occurring in South Africa, no representative from the U.S. government would be attending the Group of 20 summit later this month.
The decision was deemed “regrettable” by South Africa’s foreign ministry, which also reiterated its denial of Trump’s assertions that white Afrikaners in the Black-majority nation are persecuted.
“That the G20 will be held in South Africa is a complete disgrace,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Afrikaners (People who are descended from Dutch settlers, and also French and German immigrants) are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.”
No official from the US government will be present as long as these violations of human rights persist. In 2026, I’m excited to host the G20 in Miami, Florida. “I said,” Trump said.
NOW, JD VANCE WILL NOT TRAVEL, PER THE SOURCE
A person acquainted with the situation stated that Vice President JD Vance, who was scheduled to attend the Group of 20 international leaders in Johannesburg from November 22–23, was no longer attending.
Trump has criticized South Africa’s international and domestic policies, from its land policy to its accusation of genocide against Israel during the conflict in Gaza, which is a U.S. partner.
Last month, the president announced that only white Afrikaners would be accepted, setting the lowest restriction on U.S. refugee admissions ever.
The foreign ministry of South Africa said it had noted Trump’s “regrettable” statement on the platform and reaffirmed Pretoria’s frequently expressed denial of the claim that Afrikaners face oppression.
FACT NOT SUPPORTING CLAIM
The ministry said, “The claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact,” and that South Africa’s history of racial injustice has equipped it with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist the global community in addressing divisions through the G20 platform.
It stated that “our country is uniquely positioned to champion within the G20 a future of genuine solidarity,” and it expressed excitement about hosting a successful summit.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also skipped a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting earlier this year in South Africa, which will host the G20 from December 2024 to November 2025.
The G20 presidency will be passed from South Africa to the United States.
