In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said South Africa declined to address what he described as “human rights abuses against Afrikaners and other white minorities,” repeating claims the South African government has long rejected as “factually incorrect.”
Trump said the US will halt “all payments and subsidies to South Africa, effective immediately.”
The South African presidency called Trump’s remarks “regrettable,” stressing that the country is a full member of the G20 “in its own name and right.” Pretoria said it would not accept insults questioning its legitimacy on global platforms.
South Africa confirmed that the G20 presidency was formally handed over to a US Embassy official at the Department of International Relations — contrary to Trump’s claim.
The statement urged G20 members to uphold multilateralism and equal participation.
Tensions between the two countries have been rising since Trump issued Executive Order 14204 earlier this year, directing US agencies to support the resettlement of white South African Afrikaners and to cut American aid to Pretoria.
Relations were further strained after South Africa’s 2023 genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice — a move opposed by Washington.