White House press secretary under fire after scathing remarks about Ramaphosa

White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has faced backlash after saying President Cyril Ramaphosa was “running his mouth a little bit,” a remark many South Africans have criticised as undiplomatic and disrespectful.

Leavitt made the comment while dismissing claims that the US would participate in this weekend’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. She said only Chargé d’Affaires, Marc Dillard, would attend, and solely to fulfil the diplomatic protocol of the declaration handover.

Ramaphosa had earlier said South Africa had received indications of possible US participation.

Following Leavitt’s remarks, many South Africans took to social media to criticise her tone as disrespectful and unbecoming of a senior US official.

Are we not allowed to criticize a “President of a Sovereign State”? https://t.co/BwciiOC3lv

— Ernst Roets (@ErnstRoets) November 21, 2025

@chronikconversations

#greenscreen Calling South Africa’s President “running his mouth” was beyond disrespectful @Karoline Leavitt #SouthAfrica #tiktoksouthafrica #GlobalAffairs #DiplomacyMatters

♬ son original – Piano Soin – Tutoriels

We demand respect for President Cyril Ramaphosa from Karoline Leavitt. She must stop disrespecting other heads of states, especially from Africa. We’re black but not stupid.

— South African Defender (@patricknkwana) November 20, 2025

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has, however, insisted on X that the President will not hand over the G20 Summit presidency to a Chargé d’Affaires.

Meanwhile, International relations expert, Professor John Stremlau, says the United States’ stance on the G20 is yet another example of Donald Trump’s unpredictability and tactical behaviour.

Speaking to our sister channel eNCA, Stremlau expressed disappointment in Trump’s conduct.

“And he’s really screwed up. I’m ashamed to have the birth country that I have. But nevertheless, I’m proud of the way South Africa is behaving in this peculiar situation.”

He also reflected on America’s historical inconsistency during apartheid, pointing out that the US once backed the apartheid regime while the late former President Nelson Mandela remained on its terrorist list — adding that South Africa’s commitment to democracy continues to serve as an inspiration.