Diplomatic Rift: South African Ambassador Declared ‘Unwelcome’ in the U.S.

In a major diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday declared South Africa’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool, as “unwelcome,” citing his alleged role in fostering racial divisions. The decision, marking the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Pretoria, comes amid former President Donald Trump’s administration’s crackdown on South Africa over its policies, particularly a contentious land redistribution law. Rasool’s designation as “persona non grata” has sparked concerns over the future of U.S.-South Africa relations.

Rubio shared this statement while returning from the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada but did not provide immediate clarification. He linked to a Breitbart news article discussing Rasool’s remarks during a South African think tank’s webinar, where the ambassador had analyzed the Trump administration’s policies.

During the webinar, Rasool pointed out that the white population in the U.S. would soon no longer be the majority. Trump and his ally Elon Musk, who grew up in South Africa, have frequently criticized the black-led South African government, particularly regarding a new land law, which they argue discriminates against white citizens.

It is highly unusual for the U.S. to expel a foreign ambassador, as this typically happens with lower-ranking diplomats. Even during the Cold War and following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the U.S. and Russia refrained from expelling each other’s ambassadors.

From Apartheid Struggles to Diplomatic Fallout
Rasool, who was forcibly evicted from his Cape Town neighborhood as a child due to apartheid-era segregation policies, actively participated in the anti-apartheid movement and worked alongside Nelson Mandela.

During the webinar, Rasool had criticized the Trump administration’s rollback of diversity and equity programs, stating, “This is not the time to provoke America.” His expulsion comes at a time when Trump had signed an executive order reducing U.S. aid and support to the black-led South African government.

The South African government has denied any racial bias in its new land law, rejecting Trump’s claims as misleading. The law allows land redistribution under specific conditions to correct apartheid-era injustices.

Meanwhile, Trump has proposed granting refugee status to Afrikaners, the white minority in South Africa. Musk, who holds a key position in the Trump administration, has labeled the land law as a threat and criticized the South African government’s economic policies.