Trump Declines G20 Participation, Citing Human Rights Issues

On Friday, President Trump announced that the U.S. would not take part in the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, referring to the situation as an “utter disgrace.”

He expressed concern over reports of violence affecting Africans, particularly those descended from Dutch, French, and German settlers. In a post, he claimed, “Africans are being killed, massacred and their lands and farms illegally confiscated.”

Trump emphasized that U.S. officials would refrain from attending as long as these human rights violations persist, adding, “We look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida.”

Earlier in May, the White House instructed federal agencies to stop all preparations for the G20 summit set for November. At that time, Trump made it clear he didn’t believe the U.S. should participate.

“The G20 meeting is supposed to be held there, and I don’t know how it can be held unless that situation is resolved,” he remarked, pointing to what he described as genocide, particularly affecting white farmers.

His focus has been on claims that Afrikaners, South Africa’s white minority, are unfairly targeted. In a presidential order signed in February, he accused the South African government of “inciting unjustified violence against fundamentally disadvantaged landowners,” also advocating for a halt on foreign aid to that country.

Just before Trump made his announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on social media that he, too, would skip the summit in Johannesburg, noting the issues surrounding property expropriation in South Africa.

Rubio criticized the summit’s agenda, highlighting that it seemed to prioritize themes like “solidarity, equality, and sustainability” while maintaining that his focus was on advancing U.S. interests rather than succumbing to anti-American sentiments.

The Trump administration has permitted Afrikaner refugees to enter the U.S., arguing they are victims of “racism.” Just last month, Trump set a record-low target for refugee admissions, proposing to allow 7,500 refugees, primarily from South Africa.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller commented in May that the situation in South Africa exemplifies race-based persecution, which justifies the refugee program’s existence.

Later in the month, Trump met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, where he presented video evidence supporting his claims of genocide against white South Africans.

Ramaphosa humorously remarked about the meeting, saying, “A lot of people said, ‘This was an ambush.'” He went on to express confusion about what was happening during that encounter.

In September, Trump announced that the 2026 G20 would take place at the Doral resort near Miami, describing it as an excellent location next to the airport and expressing confidence in the venue’s successful reputation.

“We’re not trying to make money off of this,” he said, “We think it’s going to be really great.”