By Charles Switzer
2:11am PDT, Mar 16, 2025
U.S. Expels South African Ambassador
Tensions between the United States and South Africa escalated dramatically as the
Donald Trump administration expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington,
Ebrahim Rasool. Secretary of State
Marco Rubio labeled Rasool a "race-baiting politician" and accused him of fostering anti-American sentiment. In a scathing post on X, Rubio declared Rasool "no longer welcome in our great country," marking an extraordinarily rare diplomatic rebuke at such a high level.
South Africa responded swiftly, calling the move "regrettable" and emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a constructive relationship with the United States despite growing political rifts,
BBC News reported.
Here's what happened.
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Rasool's Comments and the US Backlash
Ebrahim Rasool's expulsion follows remarks he made during an online lecture in which he criticized the Donald Trump administration and its handling of
racial issues. He accused Trump of "mobilizing a supremacism" and using white victimhood as a "dog whistle" in response to demographic shifts in the U.S.
He also suggested that South Africa was being targeted diplomatically because of its historical opposition to racial supremacy. These comments, amplified by right-wing media provoked a furious response from Marco Rubio and the Trump administration, culminating in the decision to expel the ambassador.
US-South Africa Relations Continue to Deteriorate
Diplomatic relations between Washington, D.C., and Pretoria have been steadily unraveling since Donald Trump's return to office. Last month, an executive order froze all U.S. assistance to South Africa, citing "unjust racial discrimination" against the country's white Afrikaner population.
The White House specifically referenced
South Africa's new Expropriation Act, which it claimed unfairly targeted white farmers by permitting land seizures without compensation.
The South African government strongly rejected these accusations, calling them "a campaign of misinformation" and insisting that land expropriation would only occur under exceptional circumstances.
A History of Racial Politics in US-South Africa Relations
Donald Trump's administration's decision to frame its stance on South Africa around racial grievances has reignited debates over historical injustices in the country.
South Africa's white population, including Afrikaners, makes up just 7.2 percent of the total population but holds a significant majority of privately owned farmland. The ANC-led government argues that efforts to redistribute land are necessary to correct decades of racial inequality entrenched by Apartheid policies.
Meanwhile, conservative voices in the U.S. have amplified claims of "ethnic discrimination" against Afrikaners, further straining diplomatic ties.
What's Next for US-South Africa Diplomacy?
The expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool signals a worsening of U.S.-South Africa relations, with little indication of reconciliation on the horizon. South Africa must now decide how to respond — whether to expel an American diplomat in retaliation or attempt to smooth relations diplomatically.
With the U.S. cutting aid and imposing new restrictions, Pretoria faces increased pressure to navigate its economic and political standing in an increasingly divided global landscape.
