United States President Donald Trump has indicated that he is unlikely to attend the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, citing his dissatisfaction with the country’s policies as the main reason.
He revealed his stance during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
Trump said he would consider sending a representative in his place due to what he described as ongoing issues with South Africa’s domestic policies.
His remarks come amid continued criticism of the South African government, particularly in relation to controversial narratives around race-based land reform and economic redress initiatives.
This is not the first time Trump has expressed concern about South Africa. Throughout the early months of his second term, he has repeatedly raised alarm over what he has described as systemic discrimination against white citizens.
These allegations, largely amplified by figures such as South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk, have been strongly denied by the South African government.
The tension between the two nations has also been reflected in recent diplomatic absences. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not attend the G20 finance ministers’ meeting held in Durban in July, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was notably absent from the G20 foreign ministers’ gathering in Johannesburg earlier in the year.
At the heart of the US administration’s concerns are South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment policies and the land expropriation legislation that came into effect in January 2023.
While South African officials have insisted that the new law is not intended to target white landowners unfairly, it has nonetheless raised red flags among foreign investors and international policy analysts.
The prospect of Trump skipping the G20 Summit further underscores the strained diplomatic ties between Washington and Pretoria, at a time when international cooperation is considered increasingly vital.
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