President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will boycott the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, citing “a total disgrace” in the hosting decision and pointing to alleged abuses against white Afrikaner farmers. The administration’s primary justification for this boycott revolves around reported violence, fatalities, and land dispossession affecting this minority group.
While President Trump himself had already declined to attend, the US withdrawal now extends to all government officials. Vice President J.D. Vance will no longer be attending the summit, a decision confirmed by an individual close to his travel plans.
The US has repeatedly raised concerns about the situation of white farmers in South Africa, accusing the government of persecution. This stance was evident when the US administration suggested that a significant number of refugee slots would be offered to white South Africans, citing ongoing violence and discrimination.
South Africa’s government has strongly refuted these claims. President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly directly informed President Trump that the accusations of persecution against Afrikaners are “completely untrue.” The government highlights that white citizens, on average, have a higher quality of life than Black citizens, even after the dismantling of apartheid.
Undeterred by denials, the US administration continues its critical dialogue. President Trump has previously suggested that South Africa’s membership in the G20 should be terminated.
This boycott follows previous instances where US representatives have skipped G20 events. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not attend a foreign ministers’ meeting, expressing disagreement with the summit’s agenda on diversity, inclusion, and climate change.