Trump Boycotts G20 in South Africa Over White Farmers Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump declared the United States will boycott the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, citing alleged mistreatment of white Afrikaner farmers. Trump and his administration continue to claim land seizures and violence are targeting white farmers. South Africa has dismissed the accusations as false and politically motivated.
G20 Boycott Over South Africa Quick Looks
- Trump says U.S. will not attend G20 summit hosted in South Africa this year.
- Claims abuse of white farmers, referencing land seizures and violence.
- Vice President JD Vance also cancels attendance, originally scheduled to represent U.S.
- Trump calls the summit location a “disgrace”, fueling international controversy.
- South African government rejects claims, calling them “completely false.”
- Trump administration prioritizing white South African refugees, limiting others.
- South Africa’s President Ramaphosa says Trump is misinformed about Afrikaner treatment.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted earlier G20 ministerial, citing focus on DEI and climate.
- Trump proposes removing South Africa from G20, escalating diplomatic tensions.
- Controversial refugee policy aligns with Trump’s focus on white Afrikaner immigration.
Deep Look
Trump Pulls U.S. Out of G20 Summit in South Africa, Citing White Farmer Allegations
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will not participate in this year’s Group of 20 summit in South Africa, intensifying an ongoing diplomatic standoff by reviving controversial allegations regarding the treatment of white Afrikaner farmers in the country.
Trump made the announcement via a post on his social media platform Friday afternoon, calling the decision to hold the global economic summit in South Africa “a total disgrace.” The move marks the latest escalation in his administration’s ongoing criticism of the South African government, which Trump accuses of allowing violence, land seizures, and human rights abuses targeting white farmers.
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump wrote, alleging abuses against white Afrikaners, including property confiscation and deadly attacks.
Vice President Vance Cancels G20 Trip
Vice President JD Vance was originally scheduled to attend the summit in Trump’s place, but plans have changed. According to a person familiar with Vance’s itinerary, speaking anonymously, the vice president will now not be traveling to South Africa.
The cancellation leaves the U.S. entirely absent from this year’s G20 proceedings, a significant diplomatic shift given the forum’s importance in shaping global economic policy and cooperation.
South Africa Responds to Trump’s Claims
The South African government has categorically denied the allegations made by Trump and his administration. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously stated that he informed Trump directly that reports of systematic discrimination against white farmers are “completely false.”
Government officials in South Africa argue that white South Africans, particularly Afrikaner farmers, still maintain considerable wealth and landholdings — and enjoy a far higher standard of living than the country’s Black majority population, more than three decades after the end of apartheid.
Despite those assurances, Trump and his administration continue to criticize South African leadership, insisting that white landowners face targeted violence and unjust expropriation.
Refugee Policy Prioritizes White South Africans
Trump’s administration has also tied the issue to immigration policy. With the annual refugee cap slashed to 7,500 admissions, administration officials have indicated that white South Africans facing alleged persecution would be prioritized in the application process — a stance widely criticized for racial bias.
This refugee policy has drawn backlash from human rights organizations and immigration advocates, who argue that it favors white applicants at the expense of more vulnerable global populations.
Trump Calls for Expulsion of South Africa from G20
Earlier this week, while speaking at an economic policy event in Miami, Trump took his rhetoric even further by suggesting South Africa should be expelled from the G20 altogether.
“South Africa has no place at the table with the world’s leading economies while they allow these abuses,” he said. The comment adds another layer of tension between the two nations and underscores Trump’s continued willingness to use global forums to advance ideological and political goals.
Secretary of State Rubio’s Prior Boycott
The diplomatic freeze between the U.S. and South Africa has been building throughout the year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted a G20 foreign ministers meeting earlier in 2025, criticizing the summit’s focus on climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — themes he called “non-priority distractions” for global economic policy.
Rubio’s boycott set the tone for further disengagement, culminating in Trump’s full withdrawal from the summit.
Global Reaction and Potential Fallout
Trump’s decision to boycott the G20 summit raises questions about the United States’ willingness to engage in multilateral diplomacy under his leadership. Critics argue the move isolates the U.S. on key international issues and risks alienating key economic partners.
Diplomatic experts warn that the boycott, driven by controversial and unverified claims, could damage U.S. credibility and distract from larger geopolitical and economic challenges.
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