Trump admin slams South Africa for ‘weaponized’ G-20 presidency as summit ignores Christian persecution

President Donald Trump's administration clashes with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over G-20 ceremonial handover after U.S. boycotts Johannesburg summit.

Paul Tilsley is a veteran correspondent who has reported from four continents for more than three decades. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, he can be followed on X @paultilsley.

In what is becoming an increasingly fractious back-and-forth of bitter statements between Pretoria and Washington on several issues around the G-20, Kelly told Fox News Digital, "President Ramaphosa initially declared that he would pass the gavel to an ‘empty chair.’ Now, he’s refusing to facilitate a smooth transition of the G-20 presidency at all."