Ramaphosa rejects Trump’s G20 remarks

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to comments by United States President Donald Trump, who stated that South Africa would not be welcome at the 2026 G20 meetings in the US. The Presidency issued a statement on Thursday, 27 November 2025, outlining South Africa’s position and reaffirming its full standing within the global economic forum.

Ramaphosa noted Trump’s remarks with concern. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said, “South Africa is a founding member of the G20 and its participation is determined by the collective agreement of all members, not by the view of a single country.”

The statement highlighted that South Africa successfully hosted the G20 South Africa 2025 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, which was attended by several heads of state and government. Delegates described the summit as one of the most successful in recent years and adopted a declaration that emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation in tackling global challenges.

The United States did not attend the 2025 Leaders Summit after choosing not to participate. At the conclusion of South Africa’s presidency, G20 instruments were formally handed over to a US Embassy official at the headquarters of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Despite the absence of the US government, American businesses and civil society groups participated in G20 related events in significant numbers, including the B20 business forum and the G20 Social. These engagements involved discussions on trade, investment and social development.

The Presidency stated that South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy and will not accept statements that undermine its legitimacy or standing in multilateral institutions. Magwenya added, “South Africa respects the sovereignty of all nations and expects the same level of respect in return.”

Ramaphosa reaffirmed that South Africa will continue to participate fully and constructively in all G20 structures. He called on member states to uphold the G20 tradition of consensus building and equal participation.

The Presidency also noted that South Africa has made several attempts to improve diplomatic relations with the United States. According to the statement, these efforts have not always been met with cooperation from Washington.

The government said that Trump’s boycott of the 2025 Leaders Summit drew criticism from several countries, while South Africa received global recognition for hosting a successful and well attended gathering.