By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Donald Trump says that no U.S. government official would attend the Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this month, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers.
Every year, a different member state holds the presidency of the G20 and sets the agenda for the leaders’ summit – with the US due to take over after South Africa.
The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis. The nations involved have more than 85% of the world’s wealth and its aim was to restore economic stability.
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump said it was a “total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa”.
“Afrikaners (People who are descended from Dutch settlers, and also French and German immigrants) are being killed and slaughtered, and their land are being illegally confiscated,” Trump wrote, reiterating claims that have been rejected by authorities in South Africa.
“No US Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida!” he added.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly claimed that white South Africans are being persecuted in the Black-majority country, a claim rejected by South Africa’s government and top Afrikaner officials.
Trump had already said on Wednesday that he would not attend the summit – which will see the heads of states from the world’s leading and emerging economies gather in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 – as he also called for South Africa to be thrown out of the G20.
Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to attend the summit is no longer going attend.
South Africa made efforts to soothe tensions, with president Cyril Ramaphosa going to the White House in May with a large delegation that included white members of his coalition government and also famous white South African golfers.
But Trump ambushed the Oval Office meeting, with claims that white South African farmers were being killed and “persecuted” – producing unsubstantiated evidence that has been widely discredited.
Earlier this year, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, boycotted a G20 meeting for foreign ministers because its agenda focused on diversity, inclusion and climate change efforts.
The Department of International Relations said it had taken note of Trump’s “regrettable” post on the platform, and reiterated Pretoria’s oft-stated rejection of the accusation that Afrikaners are subjected to oppression.
“The claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact,” the ministry said, adding that South Africa’s past of racial inequality gives it the experience to help the world tackle divisions through the G20 platform.
“Our nation is uniquely positioned to champion within the G20 a future of genuine solidarity,” it said, adding that it looked forward to hosting a successful summit.