U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that no government official from his administration will attend the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, sparking diplomatic tension and renewed criticism of his controversial remarks about race and human rights in the country.
In a post shared on his Truth Social account, Trump described the decision to host the global summit in South Africa as “a total disgrace,” insisting that the United States will not participate “as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.”
The U.S. leader alleged that Afrikaners descendants of early European settlers in South Africa “are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.”
Trump’s remarks have once again revived the long-debunked narrative of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa, a claim that has drawn sharp rebuke from both local and international observers.
The South African government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, swiftly condemned Trump’s statement, describing it as “regrettable” and “unfounded.”
“The characterisation of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group is ahistorical. Furthermore, the claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact,” the ministry said in a statement.
Pretoria reaffirmed its commitment to hosting what it called “a successful and unifying summit” scheduled for November 22–23, under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
“South Africa’s focus remains on its positive global contributions,” the ministry added. “Drawing on our own journey from racial and ethnic division to democracy, our nation is uniquely positioned to champion within the G20 a future of genuine solidarity.”
Trump, who had earlier delegated Vice President JD Vance to represent the U.S. at the meeting, reversed the plan in what analysts see as a politically charged move ahead of his domestic re-election campaign.
He also said he looks forward to hosting the 2026 G20 Summit in the United States an event he confirmed will take place at his own golf resort in Miami, Florida, a decision already drawing criticism from ethics watchdogs.
Trump’s administration has repeatedly clashed with Pretoria in recent months over several global issues, including South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Tensions further deepened last week when Washington imposed a 30 percent tariff on South African imports the steepest rate applied to any sub-Saharan African country.
In addition, Trump’s government recently announced plans to cut the U.S. refugee quota to 7,500 annually, giving “priority to white South Africans,” a policy move that has been described by critics as racially motivated.
While Trump maintains that his decision reflects his commitment to “human rights,” foreign policy experts warn that his remarks risk damaging America’s diplomatic standing on the continent.
South African officials, meanwhile, say the country’s preparations for the summit are on track, dismissing Trump’s absence as “regrettable but inconsequential” to the broader goals of international cooperation and economic recovery.
