Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool “persona non grata,” launching a diplomatic crisis between the two nations after Rasool’s controversial comments about President Donald Trump.
Key Takeaways
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, declaring him a “race-baiting politician” who is “no longer welcome” in the United States.
- The expulsion follows Rasool’s comments suggesting President Trump promotes “white supremacy” and “emboldens hate disciples globally.”
- This rare diplomatic action comes amid escalating tensions over Trump’s executive order freezing aid to South Africa due to a land expropriation law he claims discriminates against white Afrikaners.
- South Africa’s government has denied accusations of racial discrimination, stating their land policies aim to address apartheid-era injustices.
- The diplomatic row reflects broader tensions between Trump’s administration and South Africa over racial politics and land reform issues.
Unprecedented Diplomatic Action
In a stunning diplomatic move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expelled South Africa’s Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the United States. Rubio formally declared Rasool “persona non grata,” a rare and serious diplomatic rebuke rarely employed against ambassadors of allied nations. The Secretary of State described Rasool as “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS,” and stated bluntly, “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
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
The expulsion represents an extraordinary breakdown in relations between the United States and South Africa, a country that has maintained generally cordial diplomatic ties with America since the end of apartheid. Diplomatic experts note that such expulsions typically occur only during severe international crises or when dealing with hostile regimes, underscoring the gravity of this situation and the deep divisions that have emerged between the Trump administration and the South African government.
Controversial Comments Spark Crisis
The diplomatic crisis stems from Rasool’s public statements criticizing President Trump. The South African diplomat suggested that Trump was “mobilising supremacism” and projecting “white victimhood” amid demographic shifts in the United States. Rasool had also previously written social media posts stating that Trump “emboldens hate disciples globally,” comments that clearly incensed the administration. These statements, coming from an official diplomatic representative, crossed what the State Department viewed as an unacceptable line.
Rasool, an anti-apartheid activist who previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2010 to 2015 during the Obama administration, returned to the post in January 2025. His background includes being forcibly removed from his home during the apartheid era, experiences that shaped his political perspectives.
Underlying Tensions Over Land Policy
This diplomatic eruption occurs against a backdrop of growing tension between the Trump administration and South Africa over land reform policies. President Trump recently issued an executive order freezing U.S. assistance to South Africa, citing the country’s Expropriation Act, which he claims allows for discriminatory land seizures targeting white Afrikaners. The administration has also announced plans to offer refugee status to Afrikaners, framing them as a persecuted minority requiring American protection.
South Africa’s government has forcefully rejected these characterizations, insisting that their land policies aim to address historical injustices from the apartheid era when the black majority was systematically denied land ownership rights. They deny that any land seizures occur without compensation and have accused the U.S. of spreading misinformation about their policies. This fundamental disagreement over South Africa’s approach to land reform has created a rift that the ambassador’s comments only widened.
South Africa’s Response and Future Relations
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has expressed regret over the ambassador’s expulsion while emphasizing their commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with the United States. The South African government now faces the delicate task of selecting a replacement ambassador who can navigate these troubled waters. Some diplomatic observers suggest South Africa should appoint someone with a more cautious approach to help restore relations with the United States, which remains an important economic and political partner despite the current tensions.
The situation has been further complicated by comments from Elon Musk, who has claimed on social media that his Starlink satellite service cannot operate in South Africa due to racial policies. Musk’s involvement has added another high-profile voice to the controversy, potentially amplifying tensions. Meanwhile, South African officials continue to defend their policies while expressing hope that diplomatic channels can be repaired once the current crisis subsides.
