United States President Donald Trump has publicly declared he will not attend the forthcoming G20 summit. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg.
The President made the controversial statement that South Africa should no longer be considered one of the world’s major economies.
Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, President Trump asserted,
“South Africa shouldn’t even be in the G’s anymore, because what’s happened there is bad.”
He confirmed he would forgo representing the United States at the gathering, set for November 22–23. Instead, Vice President J.D. Vance will travel to the summit.
Washington Condemns South Africa’s Policies
President Trump has consistently criticized the policies surrounding land reform in South Africa. He has publicly accused the government of specifically persecuting white farmers. Furthermore, he has charged the South African administration with perpetrating “massive human rights violations.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. leader implemented an executive order aimed at South Africa. This directive cut U.S. financial assistance to the nation. It also established a program to facilitate the resettlement of white Afrikaners in the United States, whom Trump described as facing “unjust racial discrimination.”
Officials in Pretoria have repeatedly dismissed these claims. The South African government labeled President Trump’s assertions as “factually incorrect.” They argue his comments rely on a skewed interpretation of the country’s current policies.
G20 Engagement Downgraded
The decision by President Trump to bypass the summit clearly signals diplomatic disapproval. The G20 summit functions as a primary forum for the world’s leading economies to coordinate on global finance.
By delegating the responsibility to Vice President Vance, the U.S. still maintains a level of participation. However, the President’s absence noticeably lowers the seniority of the official U.S. delegation. This choice underscores the friction regarding the U.S. administration’s stance on South Africa’s internal affairs.
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