WATCH: Donald Trump insists South Africa should not be in G20, says he will skip Joburg summit
US President Donald Trump has questioned South Africa’s place in the G20, saying he will not attend the upcoming summit in Johannesburg.
Image: File/ The White House
US President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on South Africa, saying the country “shouldn’t even be in the G’s anymore” and declaring he will not attend the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit to be hosted in Johannesburg later this month.
Speaking at a business forum in Miami, Trump accused South Africa of “going in the wrong direction” and suggested the country’s domestic and foreign policies had undermined its standing among major economies.
“For generations, Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa. I mean, if you take a look at what's going on in parts of South Africa. Look at South Africa, what's going on. Look at South America, what's going on. You know, I’m not going, we have a G20 meeting in South Africa," said Trump.
"South Africa shouldn't even be in the Gs anymore, because what's happened there is bad. I'm not going. I told them, I’m not going. I’m not gonna represent our country there. It shouldn’t be there”.
South Africa is currently serving as president of the G20 for the 2024–2025 term — the first African nation ever to do so — and is set to host world leaders in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23. The summit is expected to focus on global economic reform, equitable growth, and the voice of the Global South in global governance.
Trump’s remarks mark a new low in relations between Washington and Pretoria, which have been strained by South Africa’s non-aligned stance on global conflicts and its close ties with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China through the BRICS bloc. The United States has also recently criticised South Africa’s land-reform policies and energy partnerships with sanctioned Russian entities.
Analysts say Trump’s comments could cast a shadow over the Johannesburg summit and complicate South Africa’s efforts to project itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations.
Despite Trump’s announcement that he will not attend, the White House has previously confirmed that a US delegation — likely led by Vice President JD Vance — will represent Washington at the summit.
South Africa joined the G20 in 1999 and remains the only African member of the forum, which brings together the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies to discuss international financial and development issues.
Government officials in South Africa have consistently stated that preparations for the summit are continuing as planned.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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