U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred international tensions after suggesting he may boycott the 2025 G20 Summit scheduled to take place in South Africa this November. Trump’s remarks, posted Saturday on his Truth Social platform, accuse the South African government of promoting anti-white policies and reignite long-standing controversies between Washington and Pretoria.
In a series of inflammatory posts, Trump alleged that South Africa is undergoing what he called a “white genocide,” referencing land expropriation efforts and violent attacks on white farmers. “Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so!” Trump wrote, sparking criticism and backlash from both South African leaders and international observers.
The South African presidency was quick to respond to the provocative statement. Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said the country was “not surprised” by Trump’s comments and added that South Africa had “no longer expected him to attend in any case,” indicating that diplomatic ties between both nations remain frosty.
“We will proceed with the G20 agenda irrespective of any individual’s attendance. South Africa remains committed to fostering inclusive dialogue on global economic issues,” Magwenya stated.
South Africa currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20, a group that includes the world’s largest economies and plays a critical role in global policy coordination. The summit, expected to bring together world leaders to discuss pressing issues such as climate change, inflation, debt relief, and geopolitical instability, is a pivotal moment for the continent.
Trump’s rhetoric mirrors his previous criticisms of South Africa during his presidency in 2018, when he tweeted about “the large-scale killing of farmers” — a claim that was widely debunked by international fact-checkers and experts. His latest assertions continue to echo controversial narratives often championed by far-right groups.
The South African government has consistently denied claims of land seizures without due process or targeted violence against white citizens. “These accusations have no basis in fact and only serve to spread misinformation and deepen divisions,” said Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
According to official statistics, while violent crime in South Africa affects all demographics, there is no evidence supporting the idea of systematic or race-targeted attacks on white farmers. Additionally, experts have found no proof of any state-sponsored efforts to dispossess landowners based on race.
Trump’s social media posts also referenced footage of Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who has long advocated for land expropriation without compensation as a means of addressing the lingering effects of apartheid-era land ownership.
In a swift response, the EFF denounced Trump’s remarks as a “deflection tactic,” accusing him of using South Africa’s internal land reform debate to avoid facing diplomatic scrutiny at the summit.
“Trump is looking for excuses to dodge questions about his trade war legacy and isolationist policies,” the party said in a statement. The EFF, which secured 10 percent of votes in South Africa’s 2024 elections, has maintained that land reform must proceed legally and constitutionally.
Trump’s threat to skip the G20 Summit is not an isolated event. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to attend a G20 Foreign Ministers meeting hosted in Cape Town, citing South Africa’s “increasingly anti-American stance” and its neutral position on global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war.
Analysts suggest the deepening divide may signal a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy if Trump were to win reelection in 2024. “Trump’s comments are not just about South Africa—they’re a message to the rest of the G20 that he intends to return to the world stage on his terms,” said Daniel Mthethwa, a Johannesburg-based political analyst.
The U.S. and South Africa have shared decades of complex relations, ranging from economic cooperation to sharp political disagreements. While the Biden administration worked to rebuild U.S.-Africa ties with investment in infrastructure and health programs, Trump’s previous administration had taken a more transactional and confrontational approach.
The latest controversy threatens to further polarize discussions ahead of the summit and raises questions about America’s role in multilateral platforms if Trump returns to the White House.
With the G20 Summit just months away, Trump’s latest statement has added a layer of unpredictability to an already fragile global political landscape. While South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to hosting all member nations, the possibility of a high-profile boycott casts a shadow over the unity and cooperation the summit aims to promote.
Observers now await official confirmations from Washington regarding the U.S. delegation to the summit, as the world watches to see if Trump’s rhetoric will translate into diplomatic action.