'Very bad policies': Donald Trump rules out G20 visit to South Africa; escalates criticism over land reform, white minority 'genocide' claim

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ruled out attending the G20 summit in South Africa this November, citing what he described as “very bad policies” and repeating widely discredited claims that white citizens in the country are being systematically targeted and killed.Asked aboard Air Force One whether he would travel to the leaders’ summit in November, Trump said, “No, I think maybe I'll send somebody else, because I've had a lot of problems with South Africa. They have some very bad policies... A lot of people are being killed. So I think I probably won't. I'd like to, but I don't think I will,” as quoted by AFP.Trump has repeatedly criticised South Africa during his second term, promoting claims that white citizens, particularly farmers, are being targeted.

The claims were amplified by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa.The Trump administration has also taken issue with South Africa’s land expropriation law, signed in January, which aims to address land ownership inequalities rooted in the apartheid era.Washington has opposed the law, arguing it could lead to arbitrary confiscations of white-owned land. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected that interpretation, defending the policy as part of broader efforts at economic justice.

In May, Trump stunned South African officials during a White House meeting with Ramaphosa by playing a video he claimed showed a "genocide" of the white minority, with reporters present.The Trump administration has cited the persecution claims in granting asylum to South Africa’s Afrikaner minority. The US also imposed 30 per cent tariffs on South African goods starting August 1.Earlier this year, US secretary of state Marco Rubio also boycotted a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting held in Johannesburg.