With South Africa’s G20 theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability already drawing criticism from the current U.S administration, Vice President JD Vance is poised to use the G20 platform to advocate a more protectionist, America-First stance.

Though President Trump will be absent from South Africa this November, Vance will serve as the highest-ranking US official representing the administration at the summit, marking his first visit to the African continent.

Vance and Trump have both favored an isolationist or unilateral approach to foreign policy,  a sharp departure from the summit’s focus on “solidarity.”

Meanwhile, the administration’s domestic policies have sought to undermine the widespread scientific consensus recognizing climate change as an existential threat, a concern that most G20 members take seriously.

Vance, a Republican, became the third youngest Vice President in US history when sworn in this January. A Yale Law School graduate, he served as US Senator for Ohio from 2023 to 2025. Prior to his political career, he worked as a venture capitalist and authored Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, a memoir that gained him national prominence.

A vocal critic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, which he sees as divisive ideologies breeding hatred and racial tension, Vance identifies as part of the post-liberal right.

His rhetoric often mirrors Trumps.

On his first official trip abroad as Vice President, which included a stop at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, he criticized European democracy, particularly targeting issues around free speech and migration.

“Unfortunately, when I look at Europe today, it’s sometimes not so clear what happened to some of the Cold War’s winners,” he said. “I look to Brussels, where EU commissioners warn citizens they intend to shut down social media during times of civil unrest at the first sight of what they judge to be, quote, ‘hateful content.’ Or to this very country, where police have raided citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online as part of, quote, ‘combating misogyny on the Internet, a day of action.’ In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town.” he said.

Vance also attracted global attention for his sharp rebuke of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office meeting, in February.

“Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are forcing conscripts to the front lines because of manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict,” he said.

His recent visit to the English hamlet of Dean, however, was met with disapproval by local residents. Jonathan Mazower, a village resident, expressed his outrage.

“The fact that all this is in aid of JD Vance, who is a deeply objectionable person, who bullied Zelenskiy in the Oval Office and told him to say thank you, who is deporting foreign students for supporting Palestine and Gaza, pushing an agenda of racism, bigotry, and hatred, is appalling. He’s pushing America down a dangerous path toward fascism. Many of us cannot allow someone like that to come into our village without speaking out.” Mazower said.

Earlier in the year, President Cyril Ramaphosa had expressed hope that Trump would attend the G20 summit in person but three months later, Trump definitively announced he would not attend. Vance then becomes the most senior US official to engage in the G20 processes on behalf of the administration.

Amid ongoing speculation about Trump’s health, Vance has expressed confidence in a late August interview with USA Today.

“Yes, terrible tragedies can happen but I feel very confident the President of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term, and do great things for the American people,” he says.

Former President Thabo Mbeki says the G20 leaders’ summit in November will proceed seamlessly despite the absence of US President Donald Trump. Trump announced that he will send his deputy, JD Vance, to attend the gathering. https://t.co/KChvCgGQfS pic.twitter.com/RvAufy9xwr

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 7, 2025

RELATED VIDEO | G20 SA | Vice President JD Vance to attend Leaders’ Summit