President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no U.S. government officials would attend the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in South Africa later this month, citing what he described as ongoing “human rights abuses” in the country, Reuters reported.
“It is 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 and farms are being illegally confiscated,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The former president has long claimed that Afrikaners face racial persecution in South Africa, an allegation that the South African government has repeatedly denied.
“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!” Trump added.
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Last month, Trump set the lowest cap on U.S. refugee admissions in history, announcing that the limited slots would be primarily focused on white Afrikaners seeking asylum.
Vice President JD Vance, who had been scheduled to represent the United States at the G20 leaders’ meeting in Johannesburg on November 22–23, will no longer attend, according to a source familiar with the matter.
South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Trump’s announcement.
Trump has been openly critical of South Africa’s domestic and foreign policies, including its land reform initiatives and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa accused the U.S. ally of committing genocide in Gaza.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, which currently holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
The United States is expected to assume the G20 presidency following South Africa’s term.
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Image Credit: Lowy Institute
