Trump Administration Denies Participation in G20 Summit Amid Diplomatic Tension with South Africa

Nov 21, 2025 10:31 am CST

The Trump administration has firmly rejected South Africa's announcement of US participation in the G20 summit in Johannesburg, escalating diplomatic tensions. While the US ambassador will attend only the handover ceremony for next year's Florida summit, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized President Ramaphosa's statements as "running his mouth." This boycott continues Trump's pattern of withdrawing from international gatherings while maintaining harsh policies toward South Africa, including 30% trade tariffs, despite significant US business interests in the country.