- Donald Trump says South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, accusing the country of committing “genocide” against white people.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa called Trump’s remarks “regrettable” and said South Africa would remain a proud and equal member of the G20.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired back at former United States President Donald Trump after he announced that South Africa would be barred from the next G20 summit.
Trump said on Wednesday that South Africa “will not be receiving an invitation” to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami. He accused the country of “horrific human rights abuses” against white South Africans and said the United States would also cut financial support to South Africa.
In a long and angry post, Trump claimed the South African government “refuses to acknowledge or address” violence against Afrikaners and other white minorities. He described it as “genocide” and accused the media of ignoring it.
Trump’s outburst follows the United States’ decision to skip the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by South Africa last week. The SA government said an American embassy official received the G20 handover at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria.
In a sharp response, Ramaphosa said Trump’s comments were insulting and based on misinformation.
“South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country,” he said.
He defended the success of the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg, calling it one of the most productive ever held. Ramaphosa said it showed the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation.
He added that while the US government chose not to attend, many American businesses and civil society groups took part in G20-related events like the B20 and G20 Social.
Ramaphosa stressed that South Africa is a G20 member in its own right and will continue to play a full and equal role in all future meetings.
He also said it was “regrettable” that despite his efforts to repair relations with Washington, Trump continues to punish South Africa based on false claims.
South Africa has urged all G20 members to stand by the principles of equality, consensus and cooperation — and to reject personal attacks that undermine the group’s purpose.
Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
Image source: The Presidency
