In a move that is becoming synonymous with his presidency, Donald Trump’s White House has seemingly reversed an earlier boycott declaration and has now started talks with South Africa to participate in the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this weekend.
Addressing the media on Thursday evening after meeting with European Union leaders, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa had “received notice from the United States” about Washington DC’s potential participation.
“…About a change of mind, about participating in one shape or form in the summit. The discussions are still ongoing,” Ramaphosa said in part.
This contrasts starkly with Trump’s previous strong remarks that South Africa “did not deserve to host the summit” and “did not deserve to be a member of the G20′ grouping of nations.
The Trump administration declared last week that it would boycott the meeting, which the South African government labelled an attempt at “coercion by absentia”. The US further demanded that no final statement by G20 leaders could be issued without its presence.
It is customary for the host country of the G20 Summit to issue a final statement by G20 leaders, as a summary of the resolutions taken.
This constant policy flip-flopping has been derided by Trump’s political opponents as TACO – “Trump Always Chickens Out”.
Ramaphosa holds nerve against ‘TACO’ Trump over G20
The “TACO” label has been attached to Trump’s presidency since June 2025, when he first announced punitive tariffs against China, only to reverse them a short while later.
The announcements and subsequent reversals became a feature of the tariff war, which left markets and investors in a state of constant uncertainty.
The term was then applied to the numerous statements and declarations issuing from the White House which were often completely contradicted within hours or days. Trump loyalists describe this as a “negotiating tactic”.
‘Handing over to an empty chair’
Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said: “Washington’s absence negates its role over the G20’s conclusions. But we cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic; it is a recipe for institutional paralysis and the breakdown of collective action.”
Ramaphosa told reporters last week: “I have said in the past I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair. But the empty chair will be there, probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and talk to President Trump and say, ‘Even though you are not here, I am now handing over to you the reins of chairing or being president of the G20’. Because the G20 as an entity continues, whether they are here or not.”
