South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool has been expelled from the United States after Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled him “persona non grata” for controversial remarks about President Donald Trump that have escalated diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Quick Takes
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool “persona non grata,” effectively expelling him from the United States
- Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who dislikes America and President Trump
- The expulsion follows Trump’s executive order cutting aid to South Africa over a land law he claims discriminates against white farmers
- South Africa’s government denies racial motivations behind the law, stating it addresses apartheid-era injustices
- The unusual diplomatic action adds strain to already tense U.S.-South African relations
Unprecedented Diplomatic Action
In a rare and decisive diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the United States. Rubio declared Rasool “persona non grata,” a formal diplomatic designation that revokes his diplomatic privileges and requires his departure from American soil. The declaration came after Rasool made controversial statements about President Donald Trump that U.S. officials viewed as hostile. Such expulsions of foreign ambassadors are exceptionally uncommon in modern American diplomacy, highlighting the severity of the current situation and the administration’s firm response to perceived disrespect toward the president.
Rubio did not mince words in his assessment of the South African diplomat, characterizing him as “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.” The Secretary of State further emphasized the complete breakdown in diplomatic relations with Rasool by stating, “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
Controversial Statements Spark Diplomatic Crisis
The controversy centers around Rasool’s public statements suggesting that President Trump was “mobilising a supremacism” globally. The ambassador had previously made comments on social media platforms accusing Trump of emboldening “hate disciples globally.” These remarks came after Trump issued an executive order freezing U.S. assistance to South Africa, citing alleged racial discrimination against white Afrikaners through the country’s Expropriation Act. The timing of these statements, coupled with their direct criticism of the American president, created a perfect storm for diplomatic backlash from an administration already concerned about South Africa’s domestic policies.
Rasool is no stranger to political controversy or to American diplomatic circles. An anti-apartheid activist in his youth who was forcibly removed from his home during the apartheid era, Rasool previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015 during the Obama administration. He was reappointed to the position in January 2025, but his tenure has now been cut short amid rising tensions between the two nations.
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.
