### Tensions Rise as South Africa Claims US May Attend G20 Summit, White House Denies In a surprising turn of events, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the United States might reconsider its decision to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg. This statement comes after the Trump administration had previously indicated a withdrawal from the event, citing concerns over alleged persecution of white minorities in South Africa. However, the White House quickly refuted Ramaphosa's claims, labeling them as "fake news" and asserting that the US would not participate in the summit, further escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ramaphosa-says-us-discussing-coming-g20-in-south-africa-white-house-denies-5480636][https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3333602/south-african-president-says-us-wants-reverse-its-boycott-and-join-g20-summit]. ### Overview of Claims and Responses 1. **Ramaphosa's Statement**: President Ramaphosa claimed that the US had signaled a last-minute change of heart regarding its boycott of the G20 summit, suggesting a willingness to participate [https://www.firstpost.com/world/ramaphosa-says-us-reconsidering-g20-attendance-in-south-africa-white-house-calls-it-fake-news-13952614.html]. 2. **White House Rebuttal**: The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, firmly denied any such change, stating that the US would not engage in official talks at the summit and criticized Ramaphosa for his comments [https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/trump-administration-rejects-south-africas-us-last-minute-g20-reversal-claim-says-only-envoy-will-attend][https://24newshd.tv/21-Nov-2025/white-house-says-us-taking-part-g20-talks-s-africa]. 3. **Context of the Boycott**: The US boycott was initially prompted by allegations from Trump regarding the treatment of white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, which Ramaphosa has denied [https://www.businesstoday.in/bt-tv/video/g20-tensions-south-africa-claims-us-backtracked-white-house-rejects-allegations-503200-2025-11-21]. 4. **Potential Implications**: Ramaphosa expressed concerns that the absence of US officials could lead to an unproductive summit, potentially resulting in an "empty chair" scenario for South Africa as the host nation [https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/20/ramaphosa-we-will-not-be-bullied-as-us-skips-g20]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Official Statements**: The White House has reiterated multiple times that no US officials will attend the G20 summit, emphasizing that Ramaphosa's comments are unfounded [https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/south-africa-says-us-changed-mind-on-g-20-white-house-denies-it/article70306075.ece][https://independentnews.co.sz/33220/news/diplomacy/us-maintains-g20-boycott-white-house-rebukes-ramaphosa]. - **Public Reactions**: The exchange has sparked significant media coverage, highlighting the diplomatic strain between the US and South Africa, with various outlets reporting on the conflicting narratives [https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2025/11/21/us-denies-ending-south-africas-g20-boycott][https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/g20-south-africa-united-states-trump-i33059]. ### Conclusion and Key Takeaways **In summary, the diplomatic rift between South Africa and the United States has intensified over the G20 summit participation claims.** 1. **Ramaphosa's Assertion**: The South African president claimed a US reversal on its boycott, suggesting a willingness to engage in the summit [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ramaphosa-says-us-discussing-coming-g20-in-south-africa-white-house-denies-5480636]. 2. **White House Denial**: The US government has categorically denied any change in its participation status, labeling Ramaphosa's comments as misleading [https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3333602/south-african-president-says-us-wants-reverse-its-boycott-and-join-g20-summit]. 3. **Ongoing Tensions**: The situation reflects broader geopolitical tensions and raises questions about the future of US-South Africa relations, particularly in the context of international summits [https://www.businesstoday.in/bt-tv/video/g20-tensions-south-africa-claims-us-backtracked-white-house-rejects-allegations-503200-2025-11-21]. This ongoing saga underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and the impact of political narratives on global cooperation.