Trump’s threat to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 conference is rejected by Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s position as a founding member of the G20 on Sunday, dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to bar Pretoria from the G20 conference next year.

At the Group of 20 leaders’ meeting hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg on November 22–23, Washington boycotted the event. Trump reiterated widely refuted claims that the host nation’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority.

Due to South Africa’s refusal to transfer the G20 leadership to a senior embassy person present at the closing ceremony, Trump declared last Wednesday that South Africa would not be invited to the summit, which will take place in Florida next year. A U.S. embassy staffer was given the rotating presidency, according to Pretoria.

“South Africa is and will remain a full, active, and constructive member of the G20,” Ramaphosa declared during Sunday’s state of the country addresses.

Additionally, he called Trump’s repeated accusations that South Africa was conducting “genocide against Afrikaners”—descendants of Dutch settlers—and stealing land from white inhabitants “blatant misinformation”.

“Despite the diplomatic rift, U.S. businesses and civil society groups actively participated in G20-related events in Johannesburg in November,” Ramaphosa said.

He stated, “We value those constructive ties and will continue to work within the G20 framework,” expressing Pretoria’s desire to keep up communication.