US expels South African ambassador after Criticism of Trump

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration will expel South Africa’s ambassador to Washington.

Rubio made the announcement Friday, accusing the envoy of hating the country and President Trump.

“South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio wrote on X.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that President Donald Trump’s administration is expelling South Africa’s ambassador to Washington.

Rubio announced the news on Friday, accusing the envoy of hating the country and President Trump.

“South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio wrote on X.

“Ebrahim Rasool is ‘a racist politician who hates the United States and @POTUS,’” he said, referring to Trump via his White House X account.

“We have nothing to discuss with him and that is why he is considered persona non grata.”

The ambassador’s expulsion comes at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

In February of this year, Trump froze US aid to South Africa, citing a South African law that he said allowed land confiscation from white farmers.

Trump further escalated tensions last week when he said South African farmers were welcome to settle in the United States after repeating his accusation that the government was “confiscating” land from white people.