United States President Donald Trump has announced that no American official will attend this year’s G20 Summit in South Africa, accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of grave human rights abuses.
Trump, who had earlier delegated Vice President JD Vance to represent him, made a sudden U-turn, declaring a total boycott of the summit.
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
“No U.S. government official will attend as long as these human rights abuses continue.”
The American leader repeated his controversial claim that white Afrikaner farmers are being “killed and slaughtered” and that their farms are “illegally confiscated.”
He also confirmed that the 2026 G20 Summit would take place in the United States at his own golf resort in Miami, Florida.
South Africa’s foreign ministry reacted sharply, calling Trump’s remarks “regrettable.”
In a statement, it said the government looked forward to hosting a “successful and inclusive summit” scheduled for November 22–23 in Johannesburg.
“The characterisation of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group is ahistorical,” the ministry said.
“Furthermore, the claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact.”
Pretoria reaffirmed its G20 theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” and emphasized that its focus remained on global cooperation and shared development goals.
“Drawing on our journey from division to democracy, South Africa is uniquely positioned to champion genuine solidarity,” the ministry added.
Trump’s stance has deepened tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
Since returning to the White House in January, he has repeatedly targeted South Africa, claiming a “white genocide” is underway a claim long dismissed by rights groups and the South African government.
Earlier this year, Trump confronted President Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, playing a video that alleged a campaign against white farmers.
The South African leader rejected the claim, saying there was no policy promoting violence or land seizures against any racial group.
Trump’s administration has also moved to slash the U.S. refugee quota to 7,500 per year, giving priority to white South Africans. Meanwhile, the White House has imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
The diplomatic rift widened further after South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a move that drew sharp criticism from Washington.
Despite the backlash, Pretoria said it remains committed to hosting global leaders and promoting unity at the summit.