Trump Hits Back at Ramaphosa’s “Trash Talk” as US Boycotts G20 Summit in South Africa

The Trump administration has firmly rejected South African claims of a last-minute reversal on participation in the G20 summit scheduled for Johannesburg this weekend, confirming that no official U.S. delegation will engage in substantive discussions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the discrepancy head-on, stating unequivocally that the United States would limit its presence to a ceremonial handover, signaling the transition of G20 presidency to Washington in 2026 at a Trump-owned Florida golf resort.

President Cyril Ramaphosa had earlier expressed optimism about an apparent shift in U.S. policy, describing it as an "11th-hour about-turn" that would ensure the world's largest economy joins the forum. He emphasized the summit's inclusivity, noting that "all countries are here, and the United States needs to be here" to address pressing global issues. However, Leavitt countered sharply, criticizing Ramaphosa for "running his mouth a little bit against the United States and the president," language deemed unacceptable by the administration amid longstanding frictions over South Africa's post-apartheid policies.

Tensions trace back to repeated U.S. condemnations of South Africa's handling of white minority farmers, with Trump amplifying unsubstantiated far-right narratives of systematic violence against Afrikaners. The administration has escalated economic pressure through 30 percent tariffs—the highest in sub-Saharan Africa—and expelled South Africa's ambassador following accusations of racism leveled at Trump. The U.S. embassy in Pretoria further cited irreconcilable differences with South Africa's G20 agenda, including debt relief for low-income nations, just energy transitions, and critical minerals development, as grounds for non-participation.

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This G20 boycott forms part of a broader pattern under Trump, who has withdrawn from key international forums since returning to office in January 2025. The United States is similarly absent from the ongoing COP30 climate negotiations in Brazil, where Trump has prioritized fossil fuel advocacy over consensus on global warming. Initially, Vice President JD Vance was slated to attend the Johannesburg summit, but plans were scrapped, underscoring a strategic pivot away from multilateral engagements perceived as misaligned with American interests.

Despite the governmental snub, American corporate influence remains prominent at the parallel Business 20 forum, which concluded in Johannesburg on Thursday. U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark lauded South Africa's role in promoting cross-nation collaboration amid economic flux, pledging continued U.S. private-sector leadership. With over 600 American firms active in South Africa, these business ties highlight a pragmatic undercurrent to the diplomatic rift, even as the G20—representing 85 percent of global GDP—proceeds without its founding member's full involvement.

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