Trump Declares U.S. Boycott of G20 Summit in South Africa, Citing Human Rights Concerns

Trump Declares U.S. Boycott of G20 Summit / Photo File (Ap News)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that no American government officials will attend this month’s G20 Summit in South Africa, citing alleged human rights violations against the country’s white farming minority known as Afrikaners.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote, “It’s a disgrace that the G20 is being held in South Africa. Afrikaners — Dutch, French, and German settlers — are being killed and their lands illegally seized. Until these human rights abuses end, no U.S. official will attend the meeting.”

Trump further stated that he looks forward to hosting the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, Florida, under what he described as “a fair and just global order.”

The announcement came just weeks before the G20 leaders’ meeting scheduled for November 22–23 in Johannesburg, where Vice President J.D. Vance was previously expected to represent the United States. Following Trump’s statement, the White House confirmed that Vance will not attend the summit.

Trump accused the South African government of racial discrimination and criticized its land reform policies, as well as its stance against Israel in the genocide case filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The South African government, however, has firmly rejected Trump’s claims, calling them baseless and inflammatory, and emphasized that the country’s policies promote equality and justice for all citizens.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa over similar concerns. The United States is expected to assume the G20 presidency next year, following South Africa’s term.

Trump’s boycott marks another chapter in his increasingly combative foreign policy stance, reflecting his efforts to reshape U.S. engagement with global institutions.