Roland Schoeman Backs Donald Trump’s Decision to Boycott G20 Summit in South Africa
- Roland Schoeman has reignited debate in South Africa after publicly siding with Donald Trump’s boycott of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg
- The former Olympic champion’s post sparked sharp online divisions, with some accusing him of defending Trump’s “extreme” views
- Schoeman’s comment adds to his growing reputation as one of South Africa’s most outspoken celebrity critics of the ANC government
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Former Olympic gold medallist Roland Schoeman has weighed in on United States President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the upcoming G20 Summit, scheduled to take place later in November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Source: Getty Images
The outspoken swimmer, known for sharing his views on South African politics, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, 8 November 2025, to express his support for Trump’s controversial move.
What did Trump say?
In a social media post on Friday, 7 November 2025, Trump announced that no US officials would attend the G20 Summit in South Africa. He described it as a “disgrace” that the event was being hosted in the country, claiming that “Afrikaners are being killed, and their farms and land are being taken.”
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Trump added that he looked forward to hosting the 2026 G20 Summit in the United States, which he plans to hold at his golf resort in Miami, Florida.
He had initially stated in September 2025 that Vice President JD Vance would represent him at the Johannesburg meeting, but later reversed the decision, saying no American delegation would attend.
Schoeman, who won five Olympic medals including gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Games, tweeted:
“Trump’s the issue? Not 30+ years of ANC mismanagement and corruption that is destroying South Africa? Leftist outrage at its finest.”
Source: Getty Images
Mixed reactions from South Africans online
Schoeman’s post drew a wave of mixed reactions from South Africans on X.
User @kysnalurie commented:
“I get the feeling Trump is exaggerating things to make crystal clear the foreign policy towards SA. The USA will exert pressure as it sees fit. The ANC has aligned itself with Iran, with whom there’s pretty much a Cold War. This doesn’t fare well.”
User @riskmatters replied bluntly:
“Stop embarrassing yourself.”
Another user, @honourablemember, wrote:
“I doubt his absence will be felt anywhere.”
However, others supported Schoeman’s view. User @citizenfour said:
“They’ve been OK with politicians destroying this world throughout history, and now Trump’s the issue? Mxm!”
Schoeman’s history of political commentary
Schoeman has become known for his outspoken political opinions and frequent criticism of the South African government. Over the years, he has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign and openly criticised EFF leader Julius Malema.
His past remarks about “civilised nations” were widely interpreted as a dig at Malema’s radical rhetoric, including the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant.
Roland Schoeman comments on Charlie Kirk
Briefly News previously reported that former Olympic champion and swimmer Roland Schoeman found himself at the centre of a social media debate following his comments on the death of US conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk on 10 September 2025.
Kirk, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump and founder of the youth-focused political organisation Turning Point USA, was shot on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, in an incident that shocked the international community.
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Source: Briefly News
