US President Donald Trump announced on November 26, 2025, that South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, Florida, citing a refusal to hand over the presidency during the recent Johannesburg summit. South Africa's government described the move as punitive and based on misinformation. Other G20 members, including Germany, have expressed support for South Africa's continued participation.
The dispute erupted after the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg on November 22-23, 2025, where members adopted a declaration addressing the climate crisis and global challenges, despite the US boycott. Trump, in a Truth Social post on November 26, accused South Africa of refusing to hand over the G20 presidency to a US Embassy representative at the closing ceremony. He stated, "South Africa refused to hand off the G20 Presidency to a Senior Representative from our U.S. Embassy, who attended the Closing Ceremony," and declared, "Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's office refuted this, noting that the US delegation was absent from the summit, and the presidency was duly handed over to acting US Ambassador Marc Dillard at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on November 25. The presidency called Trump's statement "regrettable" and punitive, based on "misinformation and distortions about our country." It emphasized South Africa's status as a full G20 member, stating, "South Africa is a member of the G20 in its own name and right. Its G20 membership is at the behest of all other members."
Trump also announced an immediate halt to all US payments and subsidies to South Africa, reiterating discredited claims of a white genocide. This follows a February 2025 executive order cutting aid, primarily for HIV/AIDS programs, and an August tariff of 30% on South African imports. Since January 2025, Trump has criticized South Africa's policies, including its ICJ case against Israel.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya indicated South Africa would not lobby for support but focus on relations with the UK and Europe, saying, "If visas are denied, well, then we will have to move on and look beyond the G20 in the US." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated he would persuade Trump to invite South Africa, noting, "In my view, the G7 and G20 are formats that should not be made smaller without good reason."
Experts note exclusion requires G20 consensus, as seen in the 2022 refusal to expel Russia. Diplomats warn Trump's defiance could strain multilateralism, potentially forcing other members to choose sides.
