A world leader Friday slammed President Donald Trump's move to exclude one country from the global summit G-20, explaining how it could have harmful repercussions in the future.
South Africa’s central bank governor, Lesetja Kganyago, criticized Trump's decision to make the international event invite-only next year in Miami and exclude South Africa, saying that "would set a damaging precedent," Bloomberg reported.
“The G-20 does not work like that. It’s a consensus forum,” Kganyago said.
South Africa is the G-20 president for this year. The U.S. is slated to take over next as the group's presidency beginning Dec. 1.
Trump has accused South Africa — despite any evidence — of a genocide against South Africans and has offered them asylum in the United States. His move is reportedly based on a far-right conspiracy theory and part of the Trump administration's strategy to show immigration preference to white people.
Other members of the global bloc have expressed concern over leaving South Africa out of the 2026 meeting.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the summit has been “one of the most important multilateral forums we still have.”
Last weekend, the U.S. boycotted the G-20 summit in Johannesburg, attacking the country for its handling of the event.
“There are so many moving parts,” Kganyago said, explaining that the situation could change — just like the U.S. trade and tariff policies.
“You are going to see a lot of political posturing and there will surely be a climb-down,” he added.