Trump Excludes South Africa from 2026 G20 Summit, Deepening Diplomatic Rift Over Disputed Human Rights Claims

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami, Florida. He also declared an immediate halt to all U.S. payments and subsidies to South Africa.

Trump’s decision follows heightened tensions after the U.S. boycott of the 2025 G20 meeting held recently in Johannesburg, South Africa. The president accused the South African government of committing “horrific human rights abuses,” including violent targeting and land seizures against white Afrikaners—a claim widely discredited and rejected by South African officials.

The dispute deepened after South Africa reportedly refused to allow a senior U.S. Embassy official to participate in the ceremonial handover of G20 host responsibilities at the Johannesburg summit. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government insists it will not engage with lower-ranking U.S. diplomats, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

Trump stated on social media that South Africa is “not worthy of membership anywhere” and confirmed the U.S. would cease payments and subsidies effective immediately. This is the first time in the group’s history that a member has been formally excluded from the summit, signaling a significant strain in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

South Africa’s presidency has yet to respond officially to the exclusion announcement. Meanwhile, the decision has raised concerns about the future composition and unity of the G20, a forum traditionally committed to including major global economies for cooperative dialogue.