Trump Again Criticizes South Africa, Reiterates He Will Not Attend G20 Summit

On November 5 local time, U.S. President Trump again criticized South Africa, stating that South Africa should not be in the G20 and reiterating that he would not attend the G20 Johannesburg Summit later this month.

Speaking at an event in Miami, Florida, Trump said: "South Africa is going to hold the G20 summit. South Africa simply shouldn't be in the G20. Because the situation there is just too bad. I'm not going."

The South African government offended the U.S. after it filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in December 2023, accusing it of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Relations between the two countries have been tense throughout this year. The Trump administration first cut off aid to South Africa, citing its "Expropriation Act" as constituting "racial discrimination" against white people, and later expelled the South African ambassador to the U.S. for making critical remarks about Trump.

In May of this year, during a meeting at the White House with South African President Ramaphosa, Trump unexpectedly showed videos and press clippings, accusing South Africa of ongoing "racial massacres targeting white people." Ramaphosa denied this on the spot, pointing out that claims about white South Africans fleeing violence and "racist" laws were unfounded.

In September this year, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, stated that she did not want to speculate on the reasons for Trump's decision not to attend the summit in South Africa and believed the summit could still achieve "ambitious" outcomes.

The 20th G20 Leaders' Summit is scheduled for November 22-23 in Johannesburg. U.S. Vice President Vance plans to attend the meeting.

The next G20 presidency will be held by the United States, with a term from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026.