U.S. Expels South African Ambassador in Diplomatic Rift

U.S. Expels South African Ambassador Amid Diplomatic Tensions

The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, in an unprecedented diplomatic move. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, stating that Rasool is “no longer welcome in our great nation.”

Rubio made the statement via a post on the social media platform X, where he strongly criticized Rasool, branding him a "racist politician" and asserting that "there is nothing to discuss with him."

This development underscores the rising diplomatic tensions between the two nations, marking a significant escalation in their relationship. The South African embassy in Washington, D.C., has been contacted for comment but has not yet issued a response.

On Friday, Rubio shared an article from Breitbart, a right-leaning news organization, that quoted Rasool’s remarks from a recent online lecture discussing the Trump administration.

During the event, Rasool was quoted as saying, “What Donald Trump is initiating is an attack against the ruling authority by promoting discrimination against those in power, both domestically and abroad.”

Rubio swiftly responded to the remarks, labeling Rasool as "Persona Non Grata"—a Latin term signifying an unwelcome person.

The announcement came as Rubio was departing Canada following a foreign ministers' meeting.

Relations between the United States and South Africa have been increasingly strained since the Trump administration took office, with diplomatic tensions continuing to unfold.