US Expels South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool Amid Growing Tensions

The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, marking a significant diplomatic rupture between the two countries. This rare move underscores the escalating strain in US-South Africa relations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement on social media, declaring that Rasool is “no longer welcome” in the United States. Rubio accused the ambassador of harboring anti-American sentiments and being vocal in his criticisms of both the US and former President Donald Trump.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rubio labeled Rasool a “race-baiting politician” and ruled out any further diplomatic engagement with him. This decision was reportedly triggered by remarks Rasool made during a recent online lecture, where he criticized the Trump administration’s political strategies. He argued that Trump’s approach mobilized supremacist movements both domestically and internationally, adding that the MAGA movement was a reaction to demographic changes in the US, particularly the projected decline in the white electorate.

Rubio referred to an article from Breitbart, a conservative media outlet, that highlighted Rasool’s controversial statements. Following this, Rubio declared Rasool “PERSONA NON GRATA,” a formal diplomatic term indicating that the individual is unwelcome.

Rasool’s expulsion comes at a time of growing tensions between the US and South Africa. In addition to this, President Trump signed an executive order freezing US aid to South Africa, citing “egregious actions” by the South African government. These actions included the controversial Expropriation Act, which allows the government to seize private land without compensation. The White House claims that the act is a form of “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners, particularly farmers.

In response, the South African government has denied any racial intent behind the Expropriation Act. Officials maintain that the law is part of a broader land reform program aimed at rectifying the historical injustices caused by apartheid. They insist that the policy’s goal is to ensure fair land redistribution, not target Afrikaners.

Although lower-ranking diplomats are sometimes expelled in response to disputes, the expulsion of a senior diplomat such as an ambassador is a highly unusual move. Historically, even during the Cold War, the US and Russia refrained from expelling each other’s top diplomats.

Rasool, who previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2015, was reappointed to the position in 2025. A veteran diplomat, Rasool’s political views have been significantly shaped by his experience growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, where he was forcibly removed from his family home at the age of nine.

The South African embassy in Washington has yet to comment on Rasool’s expulsion. However, this move is expected to further damage diplomatic relations between the two nations, with potential economic and political repercussions.