U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that no American government officials will attend the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
South Africa, which currently holds the G20 presidency, was expected to hand over the role to the United States at the summit in November.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described the decision to host the gathering in South Africa as “a total disaster,” citing unfounded claims of violence against white farmers.
“Afrikaners, people descended from Dutch, French, and German settlers, are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated,” Trump wrote. “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.”
The South African government has consistently rejected claims of “white genocide” and illegal land confiscation, describing them as misinformation designed to fuel racial tension. Official crime statistics indicate that while farm attacks remain a concern, they affect South Africans of all races.
Trump’s latest remarks revive a longstanding controversy that dates back to his presidency, when he tweeted in 2018 that he had asked then–Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “closely study South Africa’s land and farm seizures.” The statement drew widespread criticism and was condemned by Pretoria as “misinformed and divisive.”
Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa and members of his Cabinet reportedly met with Trump at the White House to discuss issues around land reform and the false narrative of “white genocide.”
The decision not to send U.S. representation to the G20 summit, if carried out, could strain diplomatic ties between Washington and Pretoria. The G20 is one of the world’s most influential forums for economic cooperation, bringing together leading economies to discuss global growth, trade, and development priorities.
