Trump Withdraws South Africa’s Invitation to 2026 G20 Summit

President Donald Trump has revoked South Africa’s invitation to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, intensifying a diplomatic clash with Johannesburg as this year’s summit concluded without U.S. participation.

Trump made the announcement Wednesday on Truth Social, declaring that South Africa is “not a country worthy of membership anywhere” and that the U.S. would halt all payments and subsidies to the nation “effective immediately.”

The move marks Trump’s latest escalation against South Africa since returning to the White House. Earlier this year, he threatened to cut U.S. funding over a new land reform law that permits expropriation in limited circumstances to remedy apartheid-era inequities.

Although the law restricts arbitrary seizures, Trump accused the country of “confiscating land” from white South Africans—a claim widely disputed by South African officials and not supported by evidence.

Trump has repeatedly alleged that Afrikaners face “genocide,” rhetoric condemned by South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) as “imperial arrogance and disinformation.” After Trump cited these allegations as justification for skipping the Johannesburg summit, the ANC accused him of inflaming racial tensions for political gain.

“These statements are deliberate attempts to distort the reality of South Africa’s democracy,” the ANC said on Nov. 8. “Trump’s record speaks of a man driven by prejudice, not principle.”

Trump doubled down this week, claiming South Africa “refused” to hand over G20 presidency documents to the U.S. delegation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office denied the accusation, saying the handover was completed properly through a U.S. Embassy official since the United States did not attend the summit.

Ramaphosa’s office expressed disappointment, noting the administration has attempted repeatedly to repair ties. “It is regrettable that President Trump continues to apply punitive measures based on misinformation and distortions,” the statement read.

South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to remain an active founding member of the G20 despite the widening rift with Washington.