Cyril Ramaphosa
President Donald Trump has barred South Africa from the 2026 G20 summit and cut US funding, accusing Pretoria of ignoring alleged abuses against white Afrikaners. President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected the claims as baseless and defended South Africa’s G20 leadership, noting the US skipped this year’s summit despite being invited.
The diplomatic tension between Pretoria and Washington intensified on Wednesday when United States President Donald Trump announced that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit and that all American financial support to the country would be halted. Trump released the announcement on social media, claiming that the South African government had turned a blind eye to supposed human-rights abuses against white Afrikaners and expressing anger over South Africa’s refusal to hand over the G20 presidency at the end of this year’s summit. The remarks triggered immediate backlash and raised concerns about the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The South African government responded within hours, dismissing Trump’s accusations as false and politically motivated. Officials noted that despite its decision not to attend the Johannesburg summit, the US had in fact been formally invited to participate. Pretoria stressed that South Africa’s leadership of the G20 had been conducted in full accordance with multilateral protocols and that the government remained committed to strengthening global cooperation rather than pandering to external political pressure.
This year’s Johannesburg summit unfolded without the United States and concluded with the adoption of the G20 declaration by all present members. South Africa’s presidency focused on themes of solidarity, sustainability and inclusion, pushing for action on climate change, inequality and fairer development financing. The agenda resonated strongly with developing economies who felt marginalised in previous years and saw South Africa’s leadership as a meaningful recalibration of global priorities.
Trump’s announcement of funding cuts adds another layer of uncertainty. The United States supports numerous programmes in South Africa, including health, development and commercial initiatives, many of which play a significant role in addressing inequality and supporting vulnerable groups. Analysts warn that the suspension of these funds may disrupt ongoing partnerships and force government departments and NGOs to adjust quickly, potentially placing pressure on already stretched services.
President Ramaphosa expressed disappointment at the decision but remained firm that South Africa would not allow external political narratives to dictate its policy choices or distort the country’s democratic and constitutional realities. He reiterated that the government’s commitment to human rights applies equally to all communities and criticised attempts to weaponise racial tensions for political gain. His administration has emphasised that South Africa will continue engaging with global partners who support inclusive cooperation and fair representation in international forums.
