Former President Donald Trump has dramatically altered U.S. engagement with South Africa, announcing a boycott of the G20 summit and barring the nation from the 2026 summit in Florida. Trump’s justification for these punitive measures involves disturbing allegations of violence against the white population, particularly farmers of European descent. He publicly stated that white individuals are being “killed” in the country.
Trump extended his criticism to what he calls the “radical left media,” accusing them of deliberately ignoring these alleged atrocities and calling the situation “genocide.” Further compounding the diplomatic rift, Trump has ordered an immediate halt to all U.S. financial aid and subsidies directed towards South Africa. This significant policy shift was reportedly a direct response to South Africa’s refusal to hand over the G20 presidency to a U.S. official at the summit’s closing ceremony, an act Trump deemed unacceptable and evidence of South Africa’s unsuitability for global cooperation.