Washington (TDI): President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, accusing South Africa of “white genocide” and “human rights abuses” against white farmers.
On his Truth Social Platform, Trump criticized South Africa’s role as G20 host, calling it a “complete disgrace.” The decision was made unilaterally by the White House and directly affects US-South Africa relations; with diplomats, businesses, and global partners caught in its wake.
Trump’s move reflects a hardline stance toward South Africa’s land reform policies. Supporters view it as standing for “human rights,” while critics label it a political distraction that disseminates disinformation.
His boycott announcement also contradicts his earlier stance in July when he resorted to saying that he will send someone else in his place. But now, Trump has barred all US officials and representatives from attending the Summit.
This decision risks isolating Washington in multilateral diplomacy while pleasing segments of Trump’s domestic base. The boycott will play out at the G20 summit in Johannesburg on 22–23 November, where world leaders will now meet without US participation.
Read More: Trump Hints at Skipping G20 Summit in South Africa
The absence of Washington’s delegation could reduce American influence in Africa and create openings for China, India, and Russia to expand their roles in the Global South. Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also skipped the G20 Foreign Affairs meeting in South Africa.
The announcement has surfaced just two weeks before the summit. This last-minute withdrawal undermines months of G20 negotiations. In the short term, the move may gain political traction at home; in the long term, it could strain international cooperation on trade and climate.
Trump’s boycott stems from South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which allows land seizures without compensation in limited cases such as abandoned property. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied it amounts to confiscation.
Earlier in May, Trump granted asylum to 59 white South Africans, alleging persecution; claims that Ramaphosa dismissed as baseless. Trump’s anger over South Africa also stems from the latter’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The claim of a “white genocide” in South Africa has been widely debunked, but it remains politically powerful in right-wing circles.
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