Overview
- President Donald Trump said no U.S. officials will attend the Nov. 22–23 G20 summit in Johannesburg, calling South Africa’s hosting a “total disgrace.”
- South Africa called the move regrettable and said the persecution claims are not substantiated, as experts note farm attacks are largely criminal rather than racial and counted 37 farm murders out of more than 26,000 homicides in 2024.
- Trump earlier halted U.S. financial assistance to South Africa and his administration prioritized Afrikaners for refugee slots this fiscal year.
- Vice President JD Vance had been expected to represent the United States at the summit, but the White House now plans no delegation.
- The gathering is the first G20 held on African soil, and the United States is set to take the rotating presidency after South Africa.