“No U.S. Government Official Will Attend” — Trump Pulls Out of South Africa G20 Summit

US President Donald Trump has announced that no American officials will attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria. The summit, scheduled for November 22–23, was expected to include Vice President JD Vance, but Trump has now cancelled all US participation, citing alleged human rights abuses in South Africa.

“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “No U.S. Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” He repeated discredited claims that white Afrikaners are being “killed and slaughtered” and that their land is being “illegally confiscated.”

The South African foreign ministry described Trump’s remarks as “regrettable” and reaffirmed its commitment to hosting a successful summit. In a statement, it said, “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 added that South Africa’s presidency of the G20, under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” aims to highlight the country’s progress and promote global cooperation.

Relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained since Trump returned to office in January. Earlier this year, he confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office with a video alleging a campaign against white farmers — claims South Africa’s government has firmly rejected.

Tensions have also risen over Pretoria’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and Trump’s decision to impose 30 percent tariffs on South African exports, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. The US administration has further announced plans to reduce its refugee intake to a historic low of 7,500 per year, prioritising white South Africans.

Despite the growing diplomatic rift, South Africa maintains it will deliver a “successful and inclusive” G20 summit later this month.