South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, has been declared persona non grata and expelled following remarks critical of former President Donald Trump and his policies. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused Rasool of being a "race-baiting politician" who "hates America and its president."
Rasool’s comments were made during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) on March 14. He accused Trump of “mobilizing supremacism” both domestically and internationally. Rasool described Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement as a white supremacist response to America’s shifting demographics, noting projections that the U.S. electorate will soon be less than 50% white.
He further alleged that Trump’s policies represented a “supremacist assault on incumbency,” targeting established power structures in the U.S. and globally. Rasool also connected Trump’s rhetoric to broader global movements, suggesting figures like Elon Musk and Nigel Farage are exporting similar ideologies to Europe, with Afrikaners in South Africa being co-opted into narratives of white victimhood.
Rasool suggested South Africa could lead a global pushback against what he described as Trump’s supremacist ideology, positioning the country as a historical antidote to such movements due to its legacy of overcoming apartheid.
Rubio swiftly condemned Rasool’s remarks, calling him unwelcome in the U.S., and shared coverage from right-wing outlet Breitbart to support his stance.
The South African Presidency called Rasool’s expulsion “regrettable” but emphasized its commitment to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. While urging diplomatic decorum, South Africa defended its land reform policies and denied allegations of racial discrimination against white farmers—issues that have been central to U.S.-South Africa disputes under Trump’s administration.