United States President Donald Trump has said he may skip the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa scheduled for November 2025, citing his disapproval of several South African domestic and foreign policies.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump said,
“I think maybe I’ll send somebody else because I’ve had a lot of problems with South Africa. They have some very bad policies.”
Trump’s comments have added to the already tense relationship between Washington and Pretoria, raising doubts over high-level U.S. participation in the summit. South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
Tensions between the U.S. and South Africa have escalated since early 2024, mainly over, South Africa’s land reform policy, Its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) initiatives And most notably, South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide during its war in Gaza.
Trump has been vocal in opposing South Africa’s stance, aligning closely with Israel and questioning Pretoria’s credibility.
In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order to cut U.S. financial aid to South Africa, and during a May meeting at the White House with President Cyril Ramaphosa, he confronted him with debunked claims of “white genocide” and land seizures.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected Washington’s accusations, particularly those claiming that South Africa’s land reform targets white farmers unfairly. He insists the policy is about correcting historical injustices, not seizing land arbitrarily.
Ramaphosa has also extended an invitation to Trump to attend the G20 summit, expressing hope for constructive dialogue despite their differences.
Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Pretoria, signaling Washington’s growing displeasure with South Africa’s international positions.
The ICJ case against Israel, which South Africa filed in 2024, has especially strained relations.
The case accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have died, and millions displaced due to Israeli military action.
Israel denies the accusations, calling its actions self-defense following the October 2023 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and led to over 250 hostages being taken.
Trump’s threat to skip the G20 Summit could undermine the unity and effectiveness of the global forum, especially on key issues like climate change, global economic recovery, and international security.
It also sends a strong signal that U.S. foreign policy under Trump may become increasingly unilateral and confrontational, especially toward countries with opposing stances on global human rights and governance.
As global leaders prepare for the G20 gathering, the possibility of Trump’s absence could shift diplomatic dynamics, leaving U.S. allies uncertain and South Africa under intense international scrutiny.
