Washington/Johannesburg — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he may not attend the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, citing disapproval of South Africa’s domestic and foreign policies. The summit is set for November 22–23, 2025.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I probably won’t go. South Africa has very bad policies. People are being killed.” His remarks reflect ongoing diplomatic friction between the U.S. and South Africa, particularly over land reform laws and South Africa’s support for the International Court of Justice case against Israel.
The Trump administration has taken multiple measures throughout 2025 to distance itself from South Africa. In February, the White House suspended U.S. aid to the country and launched a fast-track citizenship program for Afrikaner farmers. The U.S. Secretary of State also boycotted the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Cape Town earlier this year.
In May, Trump reportedly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office with images he claimed showed violence against white farmers. These images were later confirmed to have originated from conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Africa.
Further straining relations, the U.S. National Security Council ordered all federal agencies to halt participation in any G20-related activities hosted by South Africa. This directive marked a full diplomatic disengagement from the summit preparations.
Despite criticism from European allies who warn that a U.S. absence could allow greater Chinese influence in the G20, Trump has remained firm in his position. He reiterated that the U.S. presidency of the G20 in 2026 will focus strictly on financial and economic issues, excluding climate and health topics.
South African President Ramaphosa’s office has rejected Trump’s claims as “inflammatory and misleading,” stating that the country’s land reform is peaceful and constitutional, and that its foreign policy reflects international legal norms.
Trump’s likely absence from the Johannesburg summit underscores a growing divide in global diplomacy and raises questions about the future cohesion of the G20.