South Africa Ambassador No Longer Welcome in America After What He Said About Trump

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly stated that South Africa’s ambassador is not welcome in the United States.

On Friday, Rubio took to social media platform X, referring to Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool as “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.”

Regarding diplomatic relations with Rasool, he declared, “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” and linked to a Breitbart article that showcased the ambassador’s remarks about President Donald Trump.

Politico reported on Friday that the decision followed Rasool’s public statements accusing Trump of advancing white supremacy on a global scale.

In February, Trump signed an executive order that cut U.S. aid to South Africa due to its treatment of white Afrikaners.

The order states that the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 enables the “government of South Africa to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.”

A Friday Breitbart article further detailed Rasool’s criticisms of Department of Government Efficiency chair Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance for their support of U.K. Reform Party’s Nigel Farage and Germany’s Alternative for Deutschland party.

Musk, in response to a video reposted from “The Rubin Report,” where host Dave Rubin interviewed South African entrepreneur Robert Hersov about laws affecting white Afrikaners, stated, “Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black.”

Why should the Trump administration engage in discussions with someone who portrays the president as a white supremacist?

It appears Rasool may have assumed the United States would still welcome him despite his critical remarks about Trump.

After all, allegations of white supremacy have followed Trump since his initial presidential campaign.

Perhaps Rasool believed that because the Trump administration allows American politicians to voice such rhetoric under free speech protections, the ambassador could make similar comments without jeopardizing diplomatic relations.

Semafor reported on Wednesday that Rasool had previously shared posts on X—then Twitter—criticizing Trump during his first term, stating the president “emboldens hate disciples globally.”

At the time, Rasool was not serving as ambassador, having held the role under the Obama administration before resuming it in January 2025.

The South African government should have foreseen this conflict and reconsidered Rasool’s appointment.

While this is his first tenure as ambassador under the Trump administration—and likely his last—refraining from calling the president a racist should be expected diplomatic conduct.

If South Africa seeks constructive dialogue with U.S. leaders, it may be wise to appoint a representative with a more diplomatic approach.