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World leaders at the G20 in South Africa made a powerful statement against the United States boycott of the G20, which is being held in South Africa. The Trump regime is boycotting the G20 in South Africa because Donald Trump has fabricated that there is a white genocide taking place in South Africa. So he says the United States is out to which the world leaders in the G20, or should I call it the G19, they're like, great, we don't want you here. When you are here, we have to deal with your drama, your baby behavior and all of the baggage that comes with you. And you're like an asset for Putin. Why the hell would we want you here? So the G19, no longer the G20, they did something unprecedented. So they gave their United declaration of the G20 or now the G19 immediately, right when the conference starts. They did it. Now that never happens. What they normally do is you wait until the end of the conference and then there's a lot of negotiation going back and forth about what the declaration is. The joint statement coming out of the G20 would be not this time. So Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, he on behalf of the United G19 minus the United States, says, here are our values multilateralism can and does deliver. And Donald Trump's whole position is being anti multilateralism. Trump's whole thing is go it alone. So the G20 now the G19 immediately said, we stand together, we support each other, we support multilateralism. We don't need the United States here. Watch as the President of South Africa who's hosting the G19 says that. Here, play this clip.
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This G20 leaders summit has a responsibility not to allow the integrity and the credibility of the G20 to be weakened. In fact, from this summit we should have a sense that the G20 has been strengthened. We thank all delegations that have worked together with us in good faith to produce a worthy G20 outcome document for this historic leaders meeting. The G20 underscores the value of relevance, of the relevance of multilateralism. It recognizes that the challenges that we face can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration and partnership. The adoption of the declaration from the summit sends an important signal to the world that multilateralism can and does deliver. It sends a message of hope and solidarity across the world. It tells the world that as the leaders of the G20, we will keep fast to our solemn pledge to leave no person, no community and no country behind.
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And the speeches at this G20 were so powerful and they were all directed at smacking down the Trump regime and the no show Donald Trump give you this example. The President of Finland, Alexander Stube, he gave an incredible speech where he talked about a rules based order, multilateralism, and how there needs to be cooperation among nations. This was clearly directed at the Trump regime and the chaos that the United States is causing here. Play this clip.
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Move on to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb. Thank you very much, Cyril, and thank you for the invitation. You know that Finns are famous for two things. One, they speak very shortly and two, they love rules. And I hope I will stick to both. It's a great privilege to be here for, for the first time representing Finland. We've never been at a G20 meeting before and we really appreciate the invitation. Jonas Stura and I both come from Nordic countries and we once calculated that the Nordics would be G10, so perhaps I'll speak in that spirit. Cyril. For me, this meeting is very much a symbol of multilateralism. And what you are trying to do here is to bring a group of key countries together that have both demography and economy on their side. And you are doing it at a time when there clearly is a change in the world order where I believe personally that the nexus of power is moving eastbound and southbound. And now I think all of us pretty much have a choice. And the choice is between multilateralism, which you are representing, and multipolarity. And these two things are very different. For me, multilateralism is about cooperation, it's about rules, it's about norms, and it's about institutions. I like these rules because they are the ones that bring exactly the thing that you have up there on the board. Solidarity, equality and sustainability. My big worry right now is that the world is moving more in a multipolar direction. And multipolarity, though it gives power to nation states as such, is problematic because it's more transactional. It's more about deals, and therefore it's more prone to conflict. There have been many excellent interventions here today about rules on trade, rules on the way in which we engage with each other. My biggest worry right now is that we are not seeing enough multilateralism in three key conflicts that have been ranging around the world. One, Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Two, the situation in Gaza, and three, the situation in Sudan. So I hope that we lean towards multilateralism. And let me say, coming from a small country, what I believe that the west should do in this. I think the west should understand that the multilateral institutions that were created after World War II and that were upheld after the Cold War, the power structure of them is right now unfair. It needs to be changed. We need to distribute power in a world that exists today, not the world that existed in 1945. That is the best way for us to drive multilateralism and get it back on track. Thank you very much. 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Thank you very much. President Stubb. You were just so precise, Alexandra. That's the Nordic spirit, I take it.
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And I think a great analysis of what transpired comes from Dr. Oscar von Heerden from South Africa as well. And he says, look, having Trump not here was the best thing for all of the world leaders. We could actually have constructive conversations. We could work together. In other words, Donald Trump is a cancer throughout the world. We don't want him. Get rid of this guy, stay out of all of these, and the world can actually get along. Now, as an American, it is so disheartening, of course, to see how America is viewed on the world stage like that, but it's true. The guy is a dangerous menace to the United States, to the international order. And this is being confirmed here. Play this clip.
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The diplomatic speak, they had to be careful how they frame things. But they are sections that speak to each and every of the four themes that the presidency of this G20 has been putting on the agenda. It speaks about climate financing, it speaks about debt management, it speaks about disaster management, and it speaks about critical minerals. And the fact that all these leaders that are here, bar one, could agree on that, that's a significant consensus. And I think now all we need to say is the proof is in the pudding. It needs to be translated into actionable plans. Dr.
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Funnier, I do want to ask you, do you think it might have been easier for them to reach consensus minus that one leader in the room?
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Absolutely. We know what a disruptor Trump can be. He's wanting the limelight on him. He was going to throw his toys out of the cot, he was going to want to, want to play golf and just take all the limelight onto him and away from the summit. And I think it's a blessing in disguise that he and his delegation was not here because it meant we could move quickly with speed and agree on very, very fundamental things.
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Now, just take a look at the G20 family photos right here. Without Donald Trump, everybody looks happy. It's normal. You know, Donald Trump even got jealous when he found out how smooth it was going. And then we heard that perhaps they were going, that the US they may send some liaison to show up at a hearing. Look, just freeze Trump out of this stuff. He doesn't need to be here at all. Let me show you how they're talking about it on Sky News over in the UK with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's arrival. Play this clip.
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Well, I think it's fair to say, Kamali and good morning, that events not in South Africa, not at this G20, are really overtaken discussions here because President Trump has not attended the G20. He's boycotted it. He hasn't sent any U.S. officials. He's not that into multilateralism and decision making in these big summits. But he is driving through a peace deal for Ukraine that US officials have drawn up with Russia without Ukraine involvement. And there is a massive pushback at the moment with leaders here trying to come up with alternatives, trying to press the us, trying to insert more of Ukraine's demands into a deal that at the moment, Ukraine are going to find very hard to accept. But President Trump is saying take it or leave it and giving them a deadline. And there has been a statement overnight ahead of today's meetings. This is from the Prime Minister. He said today, UK's friends and partners will meet in the margins of the G20 summit to discuss how we can secure a full ceasefire and create space for meaningful negotiations.
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Let's talk to you about how they're Talking about this G20 summit with the absence of Donald Trump in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attending here. Play this clip right here.
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World leaders are gathering here in Johannesburg for this weekend's G20 leaders summit, the first, first to be held on African soil. Anthony Albanese touched down earlier, welcomed by an honour guard and traditional dancers. Now, this should be South Africa's big moment to showcase its economic and diplomatic potential. But it's been overshadowed in the lead up by the boycott of Donald Trump. The US president refusing to attend this weekend's summit over debunked claims that the South African government is violently persecuting white farmers. Up until today, the Trump administration was refusing to send any government officials. But South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa has indicated there has been a change of heart and the US now wants to participate in some form. For his part, Anthony Albanese insists this G20 summit is as relevant and important as ever.
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The G20 is such an important gathering.
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It's the most important gathering for which.
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Australia is a member. It represents 85% of the global economy.
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75% of global trade. It's important for us to engage because.
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One in four of Australia's jobs depends upon trade. And it is important, therefore, that I represent Australia at forums like this, advancing Australia's economic interest. Interests and supporting Australian jobs. Here's just, you know, Prime Minister Carney seeing Prime Minister Kerr Starmer, Sir Starmer of the uk. Let's take a look. I mean, like normal adult interactions. Here, play this clip.
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No, it's really good to find time, actually, because there's a lot going on and you and I think alike. Our countries work alike. At a moment like this, our history and our values help us negotiate the various issues that we've got to discuss. So thank you for making time. Really appreciate it. I appreciate it. Not that we don't talk regularly anyway, but it's really good to have this opportunity. Yeah, no, it's great to have the moments face to face.
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We've got a lot to catch up on. From the important. Well, actually, I would say the essential. Here we have the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada, Anita Anand, responding to some questions. Let's play this clip.
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Can you just comment on whether it's been easier or more difficult to have this and other conversations here at the G20 without Donald Trump present or any Americans? So we are in a moment where the global trading order is becoming completely realigned and where the geopolitical environment is also volatile. This is a moment, therefore, where Canada is utilizing every opportunity, multilaterally and bilaterally, to ensure that our interests are asserted not only in terms of our economic robustness domestically, but also in terms of our core values and the values that we will take.
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Now look at these pictures just posted by world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron posting, you know, his photos, and then he's doing a tour around Africa, meeting with world leaders throughout Africa as well. I mean, we see photos being posted with Anthony Albanese, photos with Modi, Prime Minister Modi in India. I mean, you see all these World leaders. Ursula von der Leyen with Care Starmer right here, she's the president of the European Union Commission. Right there you've got Carney and Macron right there. While all of that's going on, what's going on in the United States? Well, we learned that airlines have to cancel flights to Venezuela because it appears that the United States military action is imminent. We see that the fake ceasefire deal in Gaza, which was never a peace deal, despite the propaganda media in the United States trying to act like there was a peace deal when there was not a peace deal that's officially fallen apart. Hamas says there is no ceasefire. And that was after the IDF killed at least 25 Palestinians yesterday and at least three children were killed. But I've said all, I mean, it's been what, 102? Trying to even think of the number. I mean, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since this so called ceasefire or the so called peace deal was entered. And I was always like, from the beginning, I'm like, it's never a peace deal. Hamas and Israel were never signatories to this thing. Hamas never agreed to disarm. They asserted control right away. Netanyahu and Smootherich and Netanyahu's crew, they've never agreed to a two state solution. They've never agreed to pull back settlements in the West Bank. They've never agreed to recognize a free Palestine. So I said how there is no deal at all. I'm glad that the hostages were returned. But let's stop pretending this is something different than it actually is right here. It's not at all. I mean, and just even look how unserious Donald Trump is right here. I mean, here Trump is yesterday. While you have all these world leaders who are out there, you know, who are out there at the G20, and they're going to be in Geneva today. They were in South Africa yesterday, Geneva today. And I'll get to that in a moment. Donald Trump's like, first off, what the hell is Trump wearing? Then he's like, I got a golf, I'm golfing today. It's exactly what Van Der Hen said. Why would he want to deal with the guy just talking about like golfing, like just an unserious human being. Here, play this clip. We're going to Andrews Air Force Base to do some work, especially for our.
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Great air force.
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Up of the base.
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Force.
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He's a meeting with the great Jack Nicholas.
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Now, I mentioned before this, the meeting in Geneva today of the coalition of the willing, the European allies of Ukraine. So Basically all of Europe without Viktor Orban and Slovakia, who are still pro Putin, but everybody else who's got the back of Zelensky. And this follows Donald Trump laundering the Russian 28 point plan that Kirill Dimitriev, Russia's sovereign wealth fund leader and special envoy to the US Came up with with Steve Witkoff for the surrender of Ukraine. Ukraine, give away all of your eastern territory, stop building up your military, you can never join NATO and all that territory is recognized as Russian. It's literally everything that Russians maximalist demands always wanted. From the outset, it seems that the United States just put the Russian plan through Google Translate. I'm not making that up. It seems like they put it through Google Translate and then they said that that's their, that that's going to be the plan right there. And Zelensky's like, no. So that meeting's taking place in Geneva and Zelensky talks about in the coming days, he's meeting with the coalition of the willing in Europe and others. And also we've got a statement that came out from pretty much all of the allies of Ukraine that was very strong and very powerful in pushing back against the Trump regime. And the message just basically said, we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and any decision about Ukraine's territory comes from Ukraine and we can never allow Russia to take over this land and take over this territory. So you have that happening as well. I'll just show you this clip too. This was Donald Trump saying that, confirming that the offer that the surrender deal comes from the United States. Here, play this clip.
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To Ukraine.
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No, not my fault.
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I would like to get the peace. It should have been. It should have happened a long time ago. The Ukraine war with Russia should have never happened. If I were president, it never would have happened. We're trying to get it ended one.
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Way or the other.
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We have to get it ended.
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That he can continue, that he can.
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Continue to fight his little heart out.
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Right? And so we know that that was translated from Russia into the United States. So utterly despicable. Here's that full statement from the world leaders. We welcome the continued US efforts. The initial draft of the 28 point plan includes important elements. We believe therefore, that the draft is a basis which will require additional work. We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack. We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need consent of EU and NATO members, respectively. We take this opportunity to underline the strength of our continued to continued support to Ukraine. We will continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine and the US over the coming days. Uk, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Poland, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Spain and others were involved in that letter right there. So very powerful stuff right there. So you have a successful G20 taking place right now in South Africa. No us there, but the world leaders are very happy right now meeting with each other, having normalcy. And meanwhile, you have our Commerce Department and and others in the Trump regime. Here's the Commerce Department acknowledging that the Commerce Department's authorizing those Blackwell Nvidia chips. Some of our most prized national secrets going to Saudi Arabia, who Donald Trump's family does business with. Saudi Arabia gets that. Remember the big deal that people were making like we cannot give the Blackwell chip to China. If we give it to China, it's going to be the end of the United States. Remember, remember that two weeks ago. Well, they gave it to Saudi Arabia. Who can then give it to China. And don't give me the well. We'll put controls. We'll make sure Saudi Arabia doesn't give those black wells to Saudi Arabia. We'll make sure. We'll make sure Saudi Arabia doesn't give those black wells to China. Trust us, we're a very competent regime. Really, you want us to trust the Trump? First off, it shouldn't be given to Saudi, the Saudis in the first place, the Blackwell chips. But then we want to trust this regime that it's not then going to find its way into China. Really? The regime that sent Lindsey Halligan, okay, the flunky lawyer who's never been a federal prosecutor to lead the Comey case and she didn't even know how to even talk to a grand jury. This is the people who are going to be guarding that these Blackwell chips don't find their way to China and to Russia all. Why? Because Donald Trump wants his personal family to do deals with Saudi Arabia. Why? I don't know that. I mean, you tell me why you think I'm asking the questions. You tell me what you think is going on here. Despicable hit. Subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. Be sure to add the Midas Touch podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast for new updates every single day. Men need a store that has the right thing for their thing. Like a Kenneth Cole suit made with Cho Flex fabric to keep them cool at their cousin in law's third wedding in the middle of July. Whatever the thing, Men's Wearhouse has the clothes for it. Love the way you look. Men's Warehouse it's okay not to be perfect with finances. Experian is your big financial friend and here to help. Did you know you can get matched.
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Episode: World Leaders Deliver Fatal Blow to Absent Trump at G20
Date: November 23, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers dive into the historic G20 summit held in South Africa, which unfolded without the United States' participation due to a boycott led by Donald Trump. The brothers dissect powerful speeches and unprecedented moments as world leaders openly rebuke Trump and the U.S. regime, emphasizing the significance of multilateralism in global governance. They highlight the global community’s relief and effectiveness in the absence of Trump, analyze the latest in US foreign policy missteps, and discuss the broader ramifications for democracy and international order.
[02:56-06:25]
[06:26-10:41]
[10:41-12:39]
[13:13-17:08]
[17:56-20:52]
[20:52-23:22]
[23:22-end]
On Trump’s Absence:
On Multilateralism:
On the Unconventional G19 Declaration:
On Russian-Led Peace Plan:
The episode paints a vivid picture of a G20 summit both liberated and emboldened by the absence of Donald Trump and the U.S., illustrating a world eager for renewed commitment to multilateralism and constructive diplomacy. The brothers’ analysis is laced with characteristic humor and indignation as they contrast the gravity of global proceedings with Trump’s insular, transactional approach. With notable clips, international perspectives, and clear-eyed critique, the Meiselas brothers provide listeners with a sense of both the historical significance and worrisome implications of America’s current trajectory on the world stage.