The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador, accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician who hates America”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, late Friday, March 14, Secretary of States Marco Rubio said Embrahim Rasool was “no longer welcome in our great country” because he “hates America and @POTUS [The President of the United States]”.
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio said.
South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 14, 2025
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
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has regretted the decision by the United States, urging all relevant and impacted stakeholders to “maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter”.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America,” President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Saturday, March 15.
Relations between South Africa and United States took a turn for the worst after President Donald Trump re-entered the White House in January 2025, with the second-time president criticising Ramaphosa administration’s policies.
The relation has been further strained after South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel — an ally of Washington — at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
President Trump’s administration has since cut financial aid to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case against Israel.
