Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host the Group of 20 summit at his private Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami next year, transforming the prestigious international gathering into an exclusive, invite-only event where he will personally control the guest list.
A Diplomatic Breach with South Africa
The controversial approach became clear when Trump announced via social media on Wednesday that he would not extend an invitation to South Africa, despite the nation currently holding the G20 presidency. This decision caps an ongoing feud with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, sparked by Trump's repeated claims—made without evidence—that South Africa was committing genocide against White Afrikaners.
The move represents a significant breach of long-established diplomatic protocol, where hosting rights and attendance at such multilateral forums are typically governed by consensus and tradition rather than individual discretion. Trump has demonstrated little concern for these conventions throughout his political career.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Consequences
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern about the implications, stating in Berlin that the G20 represents "one of the most important multilateral forums we still have in the world" and should not be "diminished unnecessarily." He noted that by boycotting last weekend's summit in Johannesburg, "the American government unnecessarily relinquished influence, including in a part of the world that is becoming increasingly important."
The situation places other G20 members in a difficult position: whether to attend despite the insult to a fellow member nation or boycott in solidarity and risk potential retaliation from Trump through trade tariffs, technology embargoes, or other measures.
South African officials had anticipated being excluded from the Miami summit and remain concerned that the U.S. might attempt to remove the country entirely from the G20. However, any change in membership would require consensus among all G20 nations, similar to the process that admitted the African Union as a full member before the 2023 summit in India.
Broader Implications for International Relations
The treatment of Africa's largest industrialized economy highlights Trump's tendency to leverage America's global position for domestic political purposes. South Africa's presidency described Trump's comments as "regrettable" and stated the country "does not appreciate insults from another country about its worth in participating in global platforms."
This diplomatic conflict risks further undermining Washington's standing with nations of the Global South, potentially playing into the hands of China and Russia—fellow BRICS members that Trump has previously denounced as anti-American. The incident raises fundamental questions about the future of multilateral cooperation under a potential second Trump administration.
