The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring that Ebrahim Rasool is “no longer welcome in our great country.”
In a post on X, Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who harbors hatred for both America and President Donald Trump.
The South African presidency on Saturday termed the decision “regrettable,” reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the US.
This rare diplomatic move marks a new escalation in tensions between the two nations, which have been deteriorating since Trump took office.
Rubio’s announcement came after he linked to an article by the right-wing outlet Breitbart, which quoted Rasool’s recent remarks during an online lecture. In the discussion, Rasool suggested that Trump’s political strategy involved “mobilizing a supremacism against incumbency” both domestically and internationally.
He also cited demographic shifts in the US, noting projections that the white voting electorate would drop to forty-eight percent.
Rubio, in response, labeled Rasool as “PERSONA NON GRATA,” effectively banning him from the US.
Escalating US-South Africa Disputes
The expulsion follows a series of strained interactions between the two nations.
Last month, President Trump signed an executive order freezing US assistance to South Africa, citing what he termed “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaner farmers. The order specifically referenced South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which it claims unfairly targets Afrikaners by allowing the government to seize private land.
“As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country,” a White House statement read.
The South African government has strongly denied that its land policies are racially motivated, stating that the reforms aim to address historical injustices.
A Rare Diplomatic Expulsion
While lower-ranking diplomats are sometimes expelled, it is highly unusual for the US to take such action against a senior official like a foreign ambassador. Even during the Cold War, the US and Russia refrained from expelling top diplomats.
Rasool previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to Washington from 2010 to 2015 before being reappointed in 2025.
Born in Cape Town, he and his family were forcibly evicted from their home when he was nine due to apartheid-era segregation laws. He has cited this experience as a defining moment in his political journey
