Trump Refuses to Attend South Africa’s G20 Summit Image Credit: Reuters
(The Post News) – Trump G20 Summit discussions are dominating international headlines as US President Donald Trump confirmed he will not attend the highly anticipated G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa later this year. Instead, Vice President JD Vance will represent the United States — a move that many see as a signal of Washington’s growing tension with Pretoria.
Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning to the US, Trump said: “I don’t think so. No, I think maybe I’ll send somebody else because I’ve had a lot of problems with South Africa and they have some very bad policies. Like policies where people are being killed. A lot of people are being killed. So I think I probably won’t. I’d like to, but I don’t think I will.”
A Major Diplomatic Snub
The G20 Leaders Summit represents one of the most crucial annual gatherings for global economic policy. Trump’s absence, critics argue, could be interpreted as a diplomatic snub. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been equally vocal, previously skipping the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Cape Town in February.
Bessent criticized South Africa’s summit, saying: “The US would whittle the G20 down back to basics,” he said, adding that Pretoria’s summit had become “a G100.”
Strained US-South Africa Relations
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have been strained for months. Trump’s decision to skip the summit comes after tense talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House in May.
Ramaphosa struck an optimistic tone after their closed-door session, telling reporters: “We stressed that the G20, having been formed by the United States together with other countries, it’s important that the United States should continue playing a key role. I want to hand over the presidency of the G20 to President Trump in November. I said he needs to be there. I don’t want to hand over the presidency to an empty chair.”
Political Calculations Ahead of the US Elections
The Trump G20 Summit decision may also be driven by domestic political considerations. By skipping the summit, Trump reinforces his “America First” narrative, appealing to his voter base that is skeptical of multilateral organizations.
Ahead of the G20 in November, South Africa has been working on a new trade framework with the United States to offset potential tariff impositions. Trump’s decision not to attend might complicate these negotiations. “It’s a little bit bad when you see a stadium with 100,000 people in it, because that means it’s more than just a little movement. It’s a pretty big movement in South Africa. So it has to be resolved.”
Miami G20 Summit Announcement
Adding to the shock, Trump announced that next year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held at his Doral golf resort in Miami, Florida. “The Miami meeting will be more concentrated,” Bessent said, hinting at a smaller, more focused summit under Trump’s watch.
What This Means for the G20 Leaders Summit
While Vice President JD Vance will attend on behalf of the United States, the absence of Trump himself could weaken the impact of US participation at the G20 Leaders Summit.
Experts warn that this decision could embolden other world leaders to disengage from G20 initiatives, reducing the bloc’s ability to respond to global crises.
A Defining Moment for Global Diplomacy
The Trump G20 Summit decision is more than just a scheduling choice — it represents a shift in how the United States engages with global partners. Whether this move will strengthen or weaken America’s role on the world stage remains to be seen.
As the countdown to the November summit continues, the world will be watching to see how Washington’s absence shapes the outcomes of this year’s gathering — and whether Trump’s Miami G20 Summit in 2025 lives up to his promise of a more “concentrated” and impactful meeting.
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