US President Donald Trump speaks to the media about the G20 Summit, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, in the Oval Office of the White House on September 5, 2025 in Washington, DC, USA.
brian snyder reuter
President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. officials will not attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit in South Africa later this month, citing “human rights violations” in the country.
South Africa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the decision “regrettable” and reiterated Trump’s claims that white Afrikaners face racial persecution in the black-majority country.
“It is an absolute disgrace that the G20 is being held in South Africa,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Afrikaners (descendants of Dutch settlers, French and German immigrants) are being killed, massacred and their lands and farms illegally confiscated.”
“As long as these human rights violations continue, U.S. government officials will not attend. We look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida!” Trump said.
J.D. Vance will no longer travel, sources say.
Vice President J.D. Vance, who was scheduled to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit to be held in Johannesburg on November 22-23, was absent, sources said.
President Trump has taken issue with South Africa’s domestic and foreign policies, from its land policy to a lawsuit accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza War, a U.S. ally.
Last month, the president set record-low caps on U.S. refugee admissions, saying those would be mostly white Afrikaners.
South Africa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took note of President Trump’s “regrettable” posts on stage, repeating the Pretoria government’s repeated rejections of accusations that Afrikaners are being oppressed.
claims not supported by facts
“Claims that this community faces persecution are not supported by the facts,” the ministry said, adding that South Africa’s past racial inequality provides experience to help the world address division through the G20 platform.
“Our country is uniquely placed to champion a future of true solidarity within the G20,” he said, adding that he looked forward to hosting a successful summit.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa, which holds the G20 Presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
The United States is set to take over the G20 presidency from South Africa.
