US announces boycott of G20 summit in South Africa

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that no U.S. government representatives will attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa.

He made the announcement in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday (November 8).

Trump accused the South African government of discriminating against white farmers, calling it the sole reason for the U.S. decision to withdraw from the summit.

Initially, Vice President J D Vance was expected to attend in Trump’s place, but it has since been confirmed that he will not go either.

In the post, Trump called it “shameful” that the G20 is being held in South Africa, alleging land seizures and attacks against white farmers.

However, South African officials have rejected Trump’s claims.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that nearly three decades after the end of apartheid, white citizens still enjoy relative privilege, dismissing allegations of systemic persecution as false.

Earlier this week, Trump suggested South Africa should be removed from the G20. In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

Since then, tensions between Washington and Pretoria have escalated.