US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will boycott the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, citing unverified claims that white people, particularly Afrikaners, are being persecuted in the country.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described it as a “total disgrace” that the G20 is being hosted in South Africa, alleging that “Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered” and that their “land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” He declared that no US government official would attend the summit “as long as these human rights abuses continue.”
The decision has drawn criticism from South Africa’s foreign ministry, which called the move “regrettable” and rejected Trump’s claims as “ahistorical and unsupported by fact.” The ministry stated that the characterization of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group was inaccurate and that there is no credible evidence of any genocide or persecution campaign.
Trump had previously said South Africa should not be part of the G20 and initially planned to send Vice President JD Vance in his place, but the White House later confirmed that no US official will attend.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of discriminating against its white minority, including during a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year. His administration has also granted refugee status to some Afrikaners, claiming a “genocide” is taking place — a narrative widely dismissed by experts and the South African judiciary.
Founded in 1999, the G20 brings together the world’s largest economies to address global financial and economic issues. South Africa is the 2025 host, with the US scheduled to assume hosting duties next year.
South African officials maintain that Trump’s claims are politically motivated and “not substantiated by reliable evidence,” emphasizing that the country remains committed to inclusivity and democratic principles.