The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, citing his alleged hostility toward America and President Donald Trump.
The move has further strained relations between Washington and Pretoria, which have been tense following recent policy disputes.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced on Friday that Rasool was “no longer welcome” in the country.
“Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS,” Rubio posted on X, referring to Trump’s official account.
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
The South African presidency responded on Saturday, calling the decision “regrettable” and urging all stakeholders to maintain diplomatic decorum.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America,” the statement read.
The expulsion follows Trump’s decision last month to freeze US aid to South Africa over claims that the country’s expropriation law allows land to be seized from white farmers.
The South African government has dismissed these allegations as misinformation.
Tensions escalated further when Trump recently invited South African farmers to migrate to the US, offering them a fast-track to citizenship.
He reiterated accusations that the South African government was “confiscating” land from white citizens.
Adding to the controversy, Trump’s ally, South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, has criticized the Ramaphosa administration, calling its land policies “openly racist.”
During a G20 event in South Africa last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that his initial discussions with Trump had been positive but said relations later “seemed to go a little bit off the rails.”
The dispute intensified after Breitbart reported on a speech Rasool delivered via livestream, where he allegedly linked Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement to white supremacy.
Breitbart claimed Rasool argued that Trump’s actions reflected a racial backlash against growing demographic diversity in the US.
Rasool, a former anti-apartheid activist, has also been outspoken in his criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, comparing them to South Africa’s apartheid era.
