Donald Trump to Skip G20 Meeting in South Africa, Maintains That Some Citizens Are Being Persecuted

• Donald Trump has indicated whether he will be attending the G20 Summit in South Africa in November 2025
• The President of the United States of America has expressed unhappiness with some of the country's policies
• Trump has claimed on more than one occasion that certain citizens are being persecuted and killed in South Africa

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

USA - Donald Trump does not plan on attending the G20 Summit in South Africa.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, the President of the United States of America noted the problems he was having with South Africa. Trump reiterated claims that Afrikaner citizens were being persecuted and killed in the country.

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What did Trump say?

Asked whether he plans to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in November 2025, Trump said he might send someone else because he has had a lot of problems with South Africa.

"They have some very bad policies. A lot of people are being killed. So, I think I probably won't. I'd like to, but I don't think I will," he said.

It’s not the first time the US President has made the claims about the country. Following talks between his administration and members of AfriForum and Solidarity, Trump claimed that terrible things are happening in the country, maintaining that there is a white genocide taking place.

He even attempted to prove this during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House, but his evidence of the genocide was later debunked. Trump also offered refugee status to Afrikaner farmers who feel unsafe in South Africa.

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The Trump administration has also imposed a 30% tariff on South Africa, which will take effect on August 1, 2025. The Presidency stated that South Africa will continue its diplomatic efforts towards maintaining a more balanced trade relationship with the US in light of the announcement.

What you need to know about America and the G20 in South Africa

• In February 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would not attend the G20 Summit.
• A political analyst said that President Trump's decision to skip the G20 Summit in November is not a surprise.
• On 12 February, Trump said that he was not yet a guaranteed attendee at the G20 Summit in November.
• In April 2025, the delegation from the US did not attend the G20 Working Group 2025 meeting in South Africa.
• In May 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he expected Trump to attend the G20 Summit following their meeting.

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What is the G20 Summit?

The G20, or Group of Twenty, is a global forum that brings together the world’s major developed and developing economies to address international economic and financial challenges. In 2025, the G20 Summit will be held in Africa for the first time, following the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member.

The summit is set to take place in Johannesburg in November, after Brazil’s presidency in 2024. The G20 consists of 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The summit is guided by three key leadership structures: representatives of national leaders, who focus on broad socio-economic issues; finance ministers and central bank governors, who deal with global economic matters; and engagement groups, which include non-governmental stakeholders that help shape policy recommendations.

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Trump claims terrible things are happening in South Africa

Briefly News reported on 3 February 2025 that Trump said he was cutting all funding to South Africa.

The President of the USA was unhappy after the Expropriation Bill was signed into law by President Ramphosa. Trump said that he made the decision because terrible things were happening in the country.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News