US says South Africa’s ambassador “is no longer welcome” in the country

The US is expelling South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing him as a “race-baiting politician” with strong anti-Trump sentiments.

“South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio said on Friday in a post on X about the rare barring of a nation’s top diplomat.

“Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @Potus (Trump).”

South Africa’s presidency on Saturday described the decision as “regrettable,” stating that the country remains committed to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. and will address the issue through diplomatic channels.

On Friday, Rubio shared a post linking to an article from the right-wing publication Breitbart, which cited remarks Rasool recently made during an online lecture discussing the Trump administration.

While the expulsion of lower-ranking diplomats is not uncommon, it is rare for the U.S. to take such action against a senior official. According to Reuters, a State Department spokesperson confirmed that the ambassador must depart by March 21.

Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and South Africa have worsened since Trump’s return to power.

Earlier this month, the U.S. cut financial aid to South Africa, citing opposition to its land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump ally, has also criticized the country’s land policies, claiming that white South Africans face “racist ownership laws.”

In January, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill allowing land expropriation in the public interest, in some cases without compensation.

However, he has defended the policy as a necessary step to address racial disparities in land ownership, emphasizing that no land has been seized under the legislation.