South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool has been expelled from the United States after Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared him “persona non grata” over alleged anti-Trump remarks, marking a rare diplomatic break between the two nations.
Top Takeaways
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, calling him a “race-baiting politician” who “hates America”
- The expulsion follows controversial comments by Rasool suggesting Trump was “mobilising supremacism” globally
- Tensions were already high due to President Trump’s executive order cutting aid to South Africa over a land law he claims discriminates against white Afrikaners
- South Africa’s government expressed regret over the expulsion while maintaining their land reform isn’t racially motivated
- The U.S. rarely takes such drastic diplomatic action, making this expulsion particularly significant
Unprecedented Diplomatic Break
In a highly unusual diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool “persona non grata,” effectively expelling him from American soil. Rubio announced the decision through official channels and social media, stating that Rasool is “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
The diplomatic community has been stunned by this development, as expulsions of ambassadors from nations considered friendly are exceptionally rare in American foreign policy. This represents a significant deterioration in the relationship between the United States and South Africa, two nations that have maintained diplomatic ties since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994. The South African presidency immediately expressed regret over the situation while emphasizing their commitment to maintaining positive diplomatic relations.
South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.
Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.
We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.https://t.co/mnUnwGOQdx
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 14, 2025
Comments That Crossed The Line
Ambassador Rasool, who previously served as South Africa’s envoy to the U.S. during the Obama administration from 2010 to 2015 before returning to the position in January 2025, reportedly made comments suggesting President Trump was promoting white supremacy globally. According to Secretary Rubio, these statements went far beyond acceptable diplomatic criticism and constituted direct attacks on the American president.
Rasool, who has a background as an anti-apartheid activist and was forcibly removed from his home during the apartheid era, had also reportedly criticized Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance for their support of certain European political parties. Past social media posts from Rasool surfaced where he claimed Trump “emboldens hate disciples globally,” further inflaming tensions between the diplomat and the current administration.
The Broader Context of U.S.-South Africa Tensions
This diplomatic incident occurs against a backdrop of already strained relations between the United States and South Africa. President Trump recently signed an executive order freezing U.S. assistance to South Africa, citing South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which he claims enables land expropriation targeting white Afrikaners. The order further announced plans to offer refugee status to Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa.
South Africa’s government has adamantly denied that their land reform program constitutes racial discrimination, insisting it aims to address historical injustices from the apartheid era. They have accused the U.S. of spreading misinformation about their policies and denied that land seizures without compensation are taking place. The controversy has also drawn in figures like Elon Musk, who commented on social media about difficulties Starlink faces operating in South Africa, which he attributed to racial policies.
Implications For Future Relations
Diplomatic experts note that South Africa will likely need to appoint a new ambassador who can navigate the complex relationship with the United States more carefully. The expulsion marks a significant low point in relations between the two countries and suggests that tensions over issues of race, land reform, and political differences will continue to challenge bilateral ties in the immediate future.
International observers are watching closely to see how this unusual diplomatic break might affect broader U.S. relations with African nations, particularly as issues of land reform and historical justice continue to be significant political concerns across the continent.
