The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool.
This was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio declared Rasool “persona non grata,” stating that he was “no longer welcome in our great country” and labeling him a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates POTUS” (President Donald Trump).
This decision was tied to remarks Rasool made during a foreign policy seminar in Johannesburg on March 14, 2025, where he reportedly criticized Trump, accusing him of mobilizing a “supremacist instinct” and “white victimhood” as a “dog whistle” during the 2024 U.S. elections, according to an article from Breitbart that Rubio referenced in his social media post.
The expulsion reflects broader tensions between the U.S. and South Africa under the Trump administration. These tensions have been fueled by several factors, including Trump’s disapproval of South Africa’s land reform policies, which he claims discriminate against white Afrikaner farmers, and South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move that conflicts with U.S. support for Israel. Earlier in February 2025,
Trump had cut U.S. aid to South Africa and offered expedited citizenship to white Afrikaners, citing “government-sponsored race-based discrimination.” Rasool’s outspoken criticism of Trump and his administration, combined with his pro-Palestinian stance, likely contributed to the decision to expel him.
South Africa’s presidency called the expulsion “regrettable” on March 15, 2025, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. and urging diplomatic decorum.
The move is seen as unusual, as expelling an ambassador—rather than lower-ranking diplomats—is a rare escalation in U.S. foreign relations, even compared to Cold War-era tensions with Russia.
