President Donald Trump delivered a forceful rebuke of South Africa on Wednesday, saying the United States refused to attend this month’s G20 summit in Johannesburg because the South African government “refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific Human Rights Abuses endured by Afrikaners.” Trump made the remarks in a lengthy Truth Social post, signaling a dramatic shift in Washington’s posture toward the country as his administration reassesses foreign aid, alliances, and international participation through an America First lens.
The United States did not participate in the 2025 G20 gathering, which was also skipped by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping. Trump made clear his administration’s absence was intentional and rooted in serious concerns regarding the treatment of white South Africans, particularly the Afrikaner farming community. Trump has long criticized South African land policies and violent crime that disproportionately affects farmers, though his critics dispute his characterization. Still, Trump has consistently framed the issue around human rights and the responsibility of nations to protect all citizens, regardless of race.
In his Truth Social message, Trump accused the South African government of ignoring what he called ongoing abuses. “To put it more bluntly,” he wrote, “they are killing white people, and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them.” He linked the issue to what he sees as an international refusal—especially among Western media outlets—to confront the situation honestly. Trump blasted the New York Times and other outlets as “Fake News Media” for refusing to acknowledge what he described as a form of targeted violence and systemic abuse.
Trump also revealed that, at the conclusion of the Johannesburg summit, South Africa refused to hand off the G20 presidency to the senior representative of the U.S. Embassy who attended the closing ceremony. Citing this as further evidence of what he views as disrespect and bad faith from the South African government, Trump said the U.S. will not invite South Africa to participate in the 2026 G20 summit, which the United States will host in Miami, Florida. The move represents one of the most aggressive diplomatic punishments issued by the Trump administration toward a member of the G20.
“South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere,” Trump wrote. He added that the United States will “stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately,” making it clear that taxpayer dollars will no longer support what he sees as a government failing to uphold basic human rights.
The full Truth Social post reiterated these themes, accusing South Africa of refusing to confront violence affecting Afrikaner communities, criticizing the international press for ignoring the issue, and emphasizing that South Africa’s behavior at the G20 closing ceremonies cemented the administration’s decision.
Trump’s stance is consistent with his broader foreign-policy approach: prioritizing the rights of persecuted groups, demanding accountability from foreign governments, and refusing to fund or legitimize nations he believes are acting contrary to American values or international norms. His decision to bar South Africa from next year’s summit adds another layer to the administration’s intensifying push to reshape global institutions on terms more favorable to U.S. interests and to nations that respect human rights as Trump defines them.
With the 2026 G20 meeting set for Miami, Trump’s message signals that only countries aligned with these principles will be welcome at the table.
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