In an unexpected diplomatic development, the U.S. Secretary of State declared on Friday that the South African ambassador to Washington is “no longer welcome” in the country. This decision marks the latest move by the Trump administration aimed at South Africa and has stirred significant attention.
The Secretary of State accused Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool of engaging in racially charged politics and expressing antagonism towards President Donald Trump. This led to Rasool being declared “persona non grata.” While flying back from a Global 7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, the Secretary shared the news on social media, but neither he nor the State Department further explained the rationale behind this decision.
The decision was linked to an article by a far-right media outlet regarding a webinar where Rasool discussed the Trump administration’s actions amidst changing demographics in the U.S. Notably, Trump’s ally, Elon Musk, who grew up in South Africa, has been critical of the South African government’s new land law, arguing that it discriminates against white people. Expelling an ambassador is quite rare for the U.S., even during significant diplomatic tensions, such as with Russia over various political disputes.
Reacting to Rasool’s expulsion, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office expressed regret and urged its diplomatic community to remain courteous. The President emphasized South Africa’s commitment to maintaining a constructive relationship with the U.S. Rasool, who previously held the ambassadorial role from 2010 to 2015 and returned in January, has a personal history battling apartheid. As a former activist, Rasool worked alongside Nelson Mandela and rose to political prominence within Mandela’s African National Congress.
During the webinar, Rasool critically analyzed the Trump administration’s policies, focusing on diversity and immigration amidst the U.S.’s shifting demographic landscape. He discussed the concerns surrounding the “Make America Great Again” movement and demographic changes suggesting a future where white people might not hold a majority in the U.S. However, he advised against antagonizing the U.S., emphasizing constructive engagement with the Trump administration.
This diplomatic tension follows an executive order by Trump that reduced assistance to South Africa, citing land expropriation practices perceived as discriminatory against the Afrikaner community. The South African government refuted these claims, emphasizing that their new land law, which allows land expropriation, seeks social justice for communities dispossessed during apartheid, rather than targeting any racial group specifically. The law intends to rectify historical injustices and redistribute land for public interest where necessary.
In response to the land policy, Trump also offered U.S. refugee status to South Africa’s Afrikaners, who are part of the nation’s white minority. Maintaining his criticism, Musk used social media to critique the law, labeling it a threat to South Africa’s white community. He has previously accused South Africa’s government of discriminating against his business initiatives, favoring companies based on racial criteria.
