President Donald Trump confirmed on March 15, 2024, that no U.S. government officials will attend this year’s G20 summit in South Africa. This announcement follows his earlier declaration of a personal boycott due to claims regarding the treatment of white farmers in the country. Vice President JD Vance, initially scheduled to represent the U.S., will also not attend, according to an anonymous source familiar with the plans.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” He reiterated that no U.S. official will participate as long as these alleged human rights abuses continue. Trump expressed his intention to host the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida.
South African Government Responds
The South African foreign ministry characterized Trump’s statements as “regrettable.” It emphasized the need for a successful summit and refuted the portrayal of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group, stating, “The characterisation… is ahistorical.” The ministry further claimed that the notion of persecution faced by this community lacks factual basis.
The upcoming summit, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, carries the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” Trump’s administration has consistently accused the South African government of allowing violence against minority white Afrikaner farmers. This has been a focal point in its broader immigration policy, which has sought to limit the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 7,500 annually, primarily targeting white South Africans facing alleged discrimination.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed Trump directly regarding these claims, stating that the accusations of discrimination are “completely false.” The South African government expressed surprise at such allegations, noting that white citizens generally enjoy a higher standard of living compared to their Black counterparts, over three decades after the end of the apartheid regime.
Ongoing Criticism from the Trump Administration
Despite Ramaphosa’s reassurances, Trump’s administration has maintained its critical stance toward South Africa. Earlier in the week, during an economic speech in Miami, Trump suggested that South Africa should be expelled from the G20. This sentiment aligns with the actions of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who boycotted a G20 meeting earlier this year, citing an agenda focused on diversity, inclusion, and climate change.
As the G20 summit approaches, the implications of these diplomatic tensions remain significant. With Trump’s firm stance and the South African government’s rebuttals, the upcoming discussions may reflect deeper geopolitical divides and differing narratives on human rights and governance.
