Trump takes another swipe at South Africa

U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed a blistering attack on South Africa, declaring that the country “shouldn’t even be in the G’s anymore,” referring to the Group of 20 major economies 

During a speech in Miami on Wednesday, he further announced that he will boycott the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later this month.

The remarks from the President of the world’s largest economy come just weeks before the November 22–23 gathering, where South Africa holds the rotating presidency.

It appeared to conflate South Africa with South American nations in a tirade against “communist tyranny,”

Speaking at the American Business Forum, Trump wove South Africa into a broader critique of leftist governments, claiming: “For generations, Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa.”

“I mean, if you take a look at what’s going on in parts of South Africa, look at South Africa, what’s going on? Look at South America, what’s going on? You know, I’m not going to.”

“We have a G20 meeting at South Africa. South Africa shouldn’t even be in the G’s anymore because what’s happened there is bad. I’m not going.”

“I told them I’m not going. I’m not going to represent our country there. It shouldn’t be there,” added Trump.

This echoed his long-standing grievances over South African land reforms and farm violence.

Reviving old grievances

Trump’s comments revive a controversy he ignited during his first term. In 2018, he directed then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to probe “large-scale killing of farmers” in South Africa.

Africa Check debunked the claims as overstated, noting that while farm attacks are a serious issue, they affect all racial groups.

It arrives amid strained U.S.-South Africa ties, exacerbated by Pretoria’s International Court of Justice case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and its deepening BRICS partnerships.

This year, Trump issued an executive order in February fast-tracking refugee status for white Afrikaner farmers, whom he claimed were facing “genocide.”

In May, renewed attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration over expropriation policies aimed at addressing apartheid-era land disparities. South African officials have consistently rejected these narratives.

South African officials have described Trump’s claims as “misinformed and inflammatory,” and called for constructive engagement on global challenges, “not baseless rhetoric that undermines multilateral institutions.”

The presidency and the international relations department has yet to respond formally, but preparations for the G20 continue unabated, with themes centered on sustainable development and African economic integration.

Vice President JD Vance is set to lead the U.S. delegation in Trump’s stead, a move the White House confirmed late Wednesday without further elaboration on membership challenges.

South Africa response

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has emphasised maintaining a constructive relationship with the U.S., despite tensions Trump’s criticisms.

DIRCO has engaged diplomatically to “counter misinformation.”

Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri stressed that these efforts seek to rebuild trust and highlight shared interests in global forums like the G20 under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”

DIRCO has not directly responded to Trump’s Miami speech, focusing instead on summit preparations, though it criticised related U.S. policies in October 2025 as disregarding South Africa’s constitutional processes.

To mend ties, DIRCO advocates high-level dialogue and improving trade relations.