Donald Trump has stated that the US will not attend the G20 summit in South Africa over widely discredited claims that white people are being persecuted in the country.
The US president expressed his disapproval, calling it a 'total disgrace' that South Africa is hosting the event where leaders from the world's largest economies are set to convene in Johannesburg later this month.
In response, South Africa's foreign ministry described the White House's decision as 'regrettable'.
No representative from South Africa's political landscape, including parties representing the Afrikaners or the white community, has claimed any instance of genocide occurring within the country.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphasized his stance by arguing that Afrikaners are being 'killed and slaughtered' and that their properties are being unlawfully seized.
He made it clear that no US official would attend the summit while such violations of human rights persist. Previously, he suggested that Vice President JD Vance would attend on his behalf, but it has now been confirmed that no US representatives will be present.
The G20 summit rotates hosting responsibilities among member states, with the US scheduled to host in the future.
The South African government has issued a statement emphasizing that characterizations of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group are historically inaccurate and that claims of their persecution have not been substantiated by facts.
Trump's accusations have drawn significant controversy, and South Africa's authorities have described them as widely discredited, mentioning that the government’s offer of refugee status to Afrikaners has seen limited uptake.
In light of the ongoing discourse surrounding these matters, this incident marks another chapter in the complex relations between the US and South Africa regarding race, migration, and human rights policies.
