President Donald Trump has decided to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, Florida, citing so-called ‘horrific human rights abuses’ and alleged violence against white farmers. This move violates the G20’s long-standing tradition of inclusion and marks the first time a member nation has been formally excluded from the summit. The decision comes amid a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and South Africa, with Trump also threatening to cut U.S. payments to the country.
Trump alleged in a Truth Social post that South Africa is ‘killing white people and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,’ which he claimed justifies the exclusion. The G20, which brings together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies, accounts for about 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. Historically, the G20 has operated on a principle of inclusion, a tradition that has already been strained after the U.S. boycotted the 2025 meeting held in Johannesburg.
The Trump administration argued that the South African government had failed to address the violence and discrimination it claimed occurred in rural farming communities. Additionally, the U.S. objected to the meeting’s focus on climate and development issues rather than core economic priorities. This boycott marked a notable break from past U.S. engagement, leaving the world’s largest economy missing from a key forum for global economic policymaking.
Relations between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have steadily deteriorated in recent months. In February, Trump suspended U.S. aid to South Africa, alleging discrimination against White farmers. Tensions escalated again in March when the State Department expelled the South African ambassador, labeling him ‘persona non grata.’ In May, the two leaders clashed in the Oval Office when Trump pressed Ramaphosa over allegations that White Afrikaners were being targeted and killed in South Africa. Ramaphosa pushed back, telling Trump he had seen no evidence to support those claims.
Clayson Monyela, head of diplomacy for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, dismissed the notion that South Africa could be shut out. ‘South Africa is a founding member of the G-20. We don’t get invited to G-20 meetings and leaders summit. Those are gatherings of members. If other members allow this then the G-20 will die,’ Monyela told Fox News Digital. ‘Other countries have already told us that they too will boycott the U.S. G-20 if South Africa is excluded.’
The G20, which brings together major advanced and emerging economies, accounts for roughly 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. The Trump administration’s argument that the South African government had failed to address violence and discrimination in rural farming communities is seen as justification for the exclusion. Additionally, the U.S. objected to the meeting’s focus on climate and development issues rather than core economic priorities. The boycott marked a notable break from past U.S. engagement, leaving the world’s largest economy missing from a key forum for global economic policymaking.
Trump also said in the same Truth Social post that he would halt U.S. payments to South Africa. ‘South Africa has demonstrated to the world they are not a country worthy of membership anywhere and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately,’ Trump wrote. The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for further details.
It remains unclear how the move will affect the country’s standing within the G20 or broader U.S. relations with South Africa ahead of the 2026 summit in Florida. Relations between Trump and Ramaphosa have steadily deteriorated in recent months, with Trump also threatening to cut U.S. payments to South Africa. This has left the country in a precarious position as it prepares for the summit, and the potential impact on global economic policies and relations remains uncertain.