US President Donald Trump confirmed that he will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, marking a notable diplomatic move amid increasingly strained relations between Washington and Pretoria.
Vice-President J.D. Vance will attend the summit in his place.
Speaking briefly with reporters at the White House, Trump cited South Africa’s “very bad policies” as the reason for his absence.
Though he did not elaborate in detail, the administration has recently criticised South Africa’s land reform initiatives and positions on international legal matters.
This year’s G20 Summit will be held from 22 to 23 November.
Praise and criticism
Meanwhile, in a separate announcement that quickly drew both praise and criticism, Trump revealed that the United States will host the 2026 G20 Summit at his own resort, Trump National Doral, located near Miami, Florida.
He described the venue as “perfect,” noting its proximity to the airport and calling it “a beautiful place, very efficient.”
Trump emphasised that his family business “will not profit” from hosting the event, stating it would be run “at cost” to taxpayers.
“There will be no money made,” he said.
“We’re doing it because it’s the best place for the world’s leaders to meet.”
This decision has reignited ethics concerns and conflict-of-interest debates.
Critics point out that Trump previously attempted to host the 2020 G7 summit at the same resort during his first term – an idea that was scrapped following bipartisan backlash and scrutiny over the Constitution’s emoluments clause.
Defended the decision
A spokesperson for the White House defended the decision, saying that the event will be organised by third-party vendors and that Trump will not be involved in any financial arrangements related to the summit.
Meanwhile, diplomatic analysts suggest that the president’s decision to skip this year’s summit could widen the diplomatic rift between the US and South Africa, especially given the current geopolitical tensions and policy disagreements on climate, global governance, and equity initiatives.
The 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa will still proceed with leaders from across the globe expected to attend, but the absence of the US president will be keenly noted in both diplomatic and media circles.
Is Donald Trump’s non-attendance a big blow for the G20 Summit?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
