President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no United States government officials will attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg later this month.
The move that removes formal US representation from the meeting.
Trump said on social media that the decision follows what he described as human rights abuses and land confiscations affecting white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, a claim his administration has repeatedly raised. South African officials rejected the allegations as unfounded and said the country will proceed with preparations to host the summit on 22 to 23 November.
Anadolu Ajansı reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked for evidence of the specific claims and urged sober engagement between the two governments.
Local broadcaster Smile 90.4FM shared the news on its Facebook feed, relaying the president’s statement to Cape Town listeners and prompting swift public conversation.
Diplomats say the withdrawal could alter bilateral discussions at the summit and shift protocol around high-level meetings. The US remains due to host the G20 in 2026, a calendar detail that further frames the dispute as a diplomatic challenge rather than a purely logistical one.
Reporting such tensions matters to South Africans who expect a smooth, secure summit and clear answers from global partners about charges that affect national reputation and regional cooperation.
Written by Angelica Rhoda
First published by Cape {Town} etc
Also see: G20 2025 South Africa: Key issues and what to expect
