The Trump administration has ordered South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, to leave the country by Friday after being declared “persona non grata” last week, the State Department confirmed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on social media Friday, stating that Rasool was no longer welcome in the U.S. South African embassy officials were then summoned to the State Department, where they received an official diplomatic note detailing the decision, according to department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Bruce explained that Rasool’s diplomatic privileges and immunities expired Monday, requiring his departure by the end of the week.
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Rubio, returning from a Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, posted on X that Rasool was a “race-baiting politician” with open hostility toward President Donald Trump. His post linked to a Breitbart article citing Rasool’s recent remarks in a Johannesburg webinar, where the ambassador reportedly framed Trump administration policies in the context of shifting U.S. demographics, noting that white people would soon no longer be the majority.
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While the U.S. occasionally expels lower-ranking diplomats, removing an ambassador is highly unusual.
This diplomatic dispute comes amid escalating tensions between the two nations. Just last month, Trump signed an executive order cutting U.S. funding to South Africa, citing concerns over its domestic policies and foreign alliances. The administration accused the South African government of supporting groups such as Hamas and Iran while enacting policies it deemed discriminatory.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing reporters on Monday, said Rasool would provide a full report upon his return. While acknowledging U.S. concerns, he downplayed the situation as a temporary setback.
“This is a hiccup, a hiccup we are working on straightening out,” Ramaphosa stated. “We will engage with the United States in a formal and respectful manner to ensure our relationship remains stable.”
South Africa has raised concerns over how the expulsion was handled, particularly that Rubio announced the decision publicly before notifying Rasool through diplomatic channels.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri noted that official matters of this nature are traditionally discussed through direct government dialogue rather than social media.
“This is the reality we must contend with under this administration,” Phiri was reported to have said in a South African Broadcasting Corporation interview. “Twitter (X) seems to be the preferred mode of communication.”
