The 2026 G20 Summit will take place in Miami, Florida, without South Africa’s participation, President Trump announced Friday in a decision rooted in allegations about the treatment of white minority populations. The exclusion marks a significant departure from the G20’s typically inclusive approach to emerging economies.
Trump’s announcement detailed his concerns about what he characterizes as human rights violations against descendants of European settlers in South Africa. His statement specifically referenced Afrikaners and people of Dutch, French, and German ancestry, claiming these populations face violence and systematic land seizures. The President’s blunt assessment included assertions that the South African government is complicit in these alleged abuses.
The recent G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg highlighted the diplomatic divide, with the United States maintaining a complete boycott while leaders from around the world, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participated in the proceedings. This absence was unprecedented in recent G20 history and demonstrated the depth of American concerns about South African governance.
Disputes over the ceremonial transfer of G20 leadership added another layer to the controversy. Trump claimed that South African officials refused to properly hand over presidency symbols to the American embassy representative present at the summit’s conclusion. The South African government countered that they followed standard diplomatic procedures, completing the transfer at their foreign relations headquarters to accommodate the absence of an official US delegation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa characterized the exclusion as unfortunate while affirming his government’s ongoing efforts to maintain constructive dialogue with Washington. Trump’s allegations about persecution and genocide of white farmers represent claims that have been thoroughly examined and discredited by multiple sources, including the South African government, white community leaders within the country, and international observers. These disputed assertions nonetheless continue to influence diplomatic relations and political discourse.