President Donald Trump
By Thabo Mosia
United States President Donald Trump has sparked fresh tensions with South Africa by announcing that the country will not receive an invitation to the 2026 G20 summit. In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the South African government of failing to address what he called horrific human rights abuses against white farmers. He also declared an immediate halt to all American payments and subsidies to Pretoria, claiming the nation has shown it is not worthy of global membership. This move comes just days after the US boycotted the 2025 G20 summit hosted in Johannesburg, highlighting a deepening rift between the two countries.
Trump’s announcement has drawn sharp reactions from around the world, with many questioning whether he has the power to exclude a founding G20 member. South African leaders have dismissed the claims as baseless and rooted in disinformation, while experts warn it could strain international alliances and hit the country’s economy hard.
Trump’s Truth Social Post and Key Accusations
In his post on 26 November 2025, Trump explained the US absence from the Johannesburg summit by pointing to alleged abuses endured by Afrikaners and other descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers. “To put it more bluntly, they are killing white people, and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,” he wrote. He went on to slam mainstream media like the New York Times for not covering what he termed a genocide, calling them liars and pretenders of the radical left media who are going out of business.
The president also highlighted a recent diplomatic spat at the end of the 2025 summit. South Africa refused to hand over the G20 presidency to a senior representative from the US embassy who attended the closing ceremony. Trump said this snub led to his directive that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 gathering, set to be hosted in the great city of Miami, Florida. In fact, the event is planned for Doral, a city next to Miami, at Trump’s own golf club, raising ethical concerns about mixing personal business with official duties.
Trump wrapped up by stating South Africa has demonstrated to the world they are not a country worthy of membership anywhere, and ordered a stop to all payments and subsidies effective immediately. This echoes threats he has made several times in recent months, including earlier in the year when he paused most financial assistance.
South Africa’s Response and Global Reactions
The South African government has taken note of Trump’s regrettable post, rejecting the allegations as entirely false. Officials have stressed that the claims of a targeted genocide against white farmers are disinformation that has been debunked time and again. They pointed out that farm attacks are a serious crime issue affecting people of all races, driven by broader problems like poverty and inequality, not government policy.
World leaders who attended the Johannesburg summit have praised South Africa’s handling of the event, with the final leaders’ declaration mentioning Africa 52 times and focusing on solidarity, investment, and global challenges. Many hailed President Cyril Ramaphosa for steering the year-long presidency successfully, despite the US boycott. The document also looked forward to working with the US in 2026 and meeting in the UK in 2027, language that some see as a subtle nod to concerns about America’s upcoming role.
European and other leaders now face a dilemma: will they attend the 2026 summit if South Africa is shut out? There is talk of expressing solidarity with Pretoria, perhaps by boycotting the US event or pushing for it to be held elsewhere. This could mirror past incidents, like when UN members moved a meeting to Geneva in the 1970s after the US barred a Palestinian leader from New York. Analysts say Trump’s move might isolate America more than South Africa, as it challenges the G20’s spirit of cooperation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, set to inherit the presidency after the US, may find himself in a tough spot. He has tried to avoid clashes with Trump, but this issue could force his hand. Overall, the global view leans towards seeing Trump’s actions as a destabilising power play rather than a valid political step.
Debunking the ‘White Genocide’ Narrative
Trump’s claims revive a long-debunked myth about a so-called white genocide in South Africa, particularly targeting farmers. While farm attacks are a grim reality, statistics show they are not racially motivated or amounting to genocide. In the 2023/2024 period, police recorded 49 farm murders across the country, part of wider rural crime trends that affect black and white victims alike. In fact, more farm murder victims are African, according to the Police Minister.
Groups tracking these incidents report that attacks often stem from robberies or disputes, with violence escalating in some cases. The murder rate on farms is lower than the national average, which sees over 27 000 killings a year. Experts from research bodies emphasise that crime hits everyone, rooted in social issues like unemployment and inequality left over from apartheid.
Land reform policies, aimed at correcting historical injustices where black South Africans were stripped of land, have been slow and court-supervised. There have been no widespread farm seizures without compensation, and claims of random takings are unfounded. Monuments like hillsides of white crosses honour victims of farm murders, but they reflect crime victims across races, not ethnic cleansing.
South Africa’s government has stepped up efforts through initiatives like Business Against Crime South Africa, working with police to improve rural safety. These include better patrols, community partnerships, and tech like drones for monitoring. Despite challenges, the focus is on tackling crime for all, not targeting any group.
Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa
Trump’s order to halt all payments builds on earlier actions in 2025, when he signed an executive order pausing most US aid. South Africa has received more than $6 billion from American taxpayers over the past decade, mainly for health, education, and development. In 2023 alone, about $441 million was promised, with another $564 million reported for 2024.
Key programmes like PEPFAR, which fights HIV/AIDS, have been hit hard. South Africa has one of the world’s largest HIV burdens, and these funds have saved countless lives through treatment and prevention. A recent $4.6 billion US contribution to the global fund, announced just last weekend, now hangs in the balance amid Trump’s threats.
Economically, the cuts could worsen challenges in a country with high unemployment and inequality. They also tie into broader pressures, like a push in the US Congress to remove South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which gives duty-free access to American markets. A stalled trade deal between Pretoria and Washington adds to the strain.
South African officials have clarified that some targeted aid, like for health emergencies, has continued despite pauses. But a full stop could set back progress in fighting diseases, boosting education, and growing the economy.
Ethical Concerns Over the 2026 G20 Venue
Trump’s choice to host the 2026 summit at his Doral golf club has raised eyebrows. While he claims no personal profit, critics say it blurs lines between business and state duties. World leaders may hesitate to attend an event that boosts his private interests, especially amid calls for ethics in global forums.
The club in Doral, not Miami as Trump said, could market itself off the summit for years. This adds to dilemmas for attendees, who must weigh diplomacy against principles.
Strained US-South Africa Relations and Future Outlook
Bilateral ties have worsened since Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. Disputes over trade, South Africa’s views on global conflicts like Ukraine and Palestine, and domestic policies have fueled the fire. The G20 boycott and aid threats mark new lows.
A big decision looms for South Africa: whether to accept Brent Bozell as the next US ambassador. Bozell, a Trump ally, cleared a Senate committee but awaits full approval. This comes after South Africa expelled the US ambassador earlier in 2025 over unrelated issues.
On the G20 front, the troika – South Africa, the US, and the UK – must work together on handovers like the official website. With no US sherpas at Johannesburg, smooth transitions are in doubt. Trump’s talk of stripping the G20 back to basics could clash with South Africa’s focus on Africa and inequality.
South Africa has used its 2025 presidency to reposition itself, leaning on alliances beyond the West. The summit stressed investment in African resources, from mining to manufacturing, showing a shift towards self-reliance.