President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised US President Donald Trump’s intention to exclude South Africa from next year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in the United States, describing the remarks as “regrettable” and grounded in misinformation.
In a statement on Thursday, November 17, the Presidency reaffirmed that South Africa is a full G20 member in its own right and underscored that the country would not accept disparaging comments about its legitimacy or its role on global platforms.
Ramaphosa emphasised South Africa’s commitment to sovereignty, mutual respect and constructive engagement, noting that Trump’s claims—tied to disinformation about white genocide and confusion around the G20 Presidency handover—misrepresented the realities of the Johannesburg summit.
Reiterating South Africa’s dedication to multilateralism, Ramaphosa said the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit had drawn widespread praise and produced a declaration reinforcing the value of global cooperation.
Although the United States chose not to attend, the formal instruments of the G20 Presidency were handed to a US Embassy official.
The Presidency added that Washington had been expected to participate fully during South Africa’s term but opted out of the Johannesburg meeting of its own accord.
Despite this absence, American businesses and civil society groups engaged actively in related forums such as the B20 and the G20 Social, highlighting the enduring economic and social ties between the two nations.