WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no American government officials would attend the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in South Africa later this month, citing what he called “human rights abuses” in the country.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused South Africa’s government of persecuting white Afrikaners — descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers — claiming they are being “killed and slaughtered” and that their “land and farms are being illegally confiscated.”
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump wrote. “No U.S. Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida!”
Read More: Human rights violations — an endemic in South Asia
A source confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who had been scheduled to attend the Johannesburg summit on November 22–23, would no longer travel following the president’s directive.
South Africa’s foreign ministry responded by calling the U.S. decision “regrettable” and rejected Trump’s assertions as unfounded. “The claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact,” the ministry said, emphasizing that South Africa’s experience overcoming racial inequality enables it to “champion a future of genuine solidarity” through the G20 platform.
The ministry added that it remained committed to hosting a successful summit, noting that the G20 presidency currently rests with South Africa from December 2024 to November 2025, before passing to the United States.
Read More: At UN, Pakistan debunks India’s allegations of human rights abuses
Trump has repeatedly clashed with South Africa over its domestic and foreign policies — including its land reform agenda and its legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the war in Gaza. Last month, his administration announced the lowest U.S. refugee cap on record, prioritizing admissions for white Afrikaners.
Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, marking a continued diplomatic rift between Washington and Pretoria.