• President Donald Trump will not attend the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg, sending Vice President JD Vance instead.
  • The decision follows escalating tensions including 30% tariffs on South African exports and a controversial refugee policy.
  • Trump announced the 2026 G20 will be hosted at his Miami golf resort, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent overseeing the event.

President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that he will skip next year's G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, a move that caps months of deteriorating relations between Washington and Pretoria. Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the November 22-23, 2025, gathering instead.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing trade dispute that saw the Trump administration impose 30% tariffs on selected South African exports, including steel, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. The measures have strained bilateral trade relations and raised concerns among South African exporters about market access.

Adding to the diplomatic friction, Trump recently signed an executive order allowing white Afrikaners to claim refugee status in the United States, citing concerns over what administration officials have called "anti-white" policies in South Africa. The move has sparked intense debate in both countries about the appropriate scope of U.S. immigration policy.

In a separate development that caught many observers by surprise, Trump revealed that the 2026 G20 Summit will be hosted at his private golf resort in Miami, Florida. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will oversee the event, according to people familiar with the planning.

"The decision to bypass Johannesburg reflects the administration's broader approach to multilateral engagement," said one analyst who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters. "We're seeing economic measures take precedence over traditional diplomacy."

Despite the bilateral tensions, experts suggest Trump's absence is unlikely to derail the G20's agenda. The Johannesburg summit will be the first held on the African continent, highlighting what many see as the growing importance of African voices in global economic governance. Other world leaders are still expected to attend, though the U.S. delegation will now operate at a lower level.

Efforts to reach the White House for additional comment were unsuccessful Tuesday evening. A State Department spokesperson declined to elaborate on the vice president's specific agenda for the Johannesburg meetings.

The selection of Trump's Miami property for the 2026 summit represents an unusual departure from traditional hosting arrangements, which typically feature government-owned facilities or major convention centers. Ethics watchdogs have already raised questions about the propriety of the arrangement, though administration officials have defended the choice as cost-effective.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the year of the Miami G20 summit. It will take place in 2026, not 2025.