Ambassador Rasool
By Chris Williams
The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, declaring him persona non grata after his controversial remarks about President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Friday, 14 March 2025, stating that Rasool is no longer welcome in the country. The move has plunged US-South Africa relations into a diplomatic crisis, with the US insisting “we deserve better” from its foreign representatives, while South Africa calls the expulsion “regrettable” but vows to maintain ties.
A Sudden Diplomatic Fallout
The expulsion stems from comments Rasool made during a virtual seminar, where he reportedly described Trump’s MAGA movement as a “white supremacist response” to America’s changing demographics. The remarks, picked up by the conservative US outlet Breitbart, sparked outrage in Washington. Rubio took to social media platform X, posting: “Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him. He is persona non grata and no longer welcome in our great country.” The post gained over 261,000 views in an hour, amplifying the controversy.
The US State Department followed with an official diplomatic note on 14 March 2025, stating that Rasool’s privileges and immunities would end by Monday, 17 March, and he must leave the US by 21 March. The note also barred him from future diplomatic roles in the US, citing his “deeply offensive” comments about Trump as the reason for the decision.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce elaborated during a Monday evening briefing: “If we don’t have a standard about the nature of someone who is in this country, who is supposed to be a diplomat to help facilitate the relationship between two countries, and this is the standard of it, you know, we deserve better.” She called Rasool’s remarks “pretty much obscene” and unacceptable to both the president and the American public, stressing that diplomats must show “basic, low-level respect” – a standard Rasool failed to meet.
South Africa’s Response: Regret and Resilience
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) labelled the expulsion “regrettable.” Spokesperson Crispin Phiri said: “This development really comes at a time where discussions were really at an advanced stage with the White House administration, and that’s what makes it most regrettable.” Despite the setback, Phiri affirmed South Africa’s commitment to engaging with the US to “normalise relations as much as possible.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office echoed this sentiment in a statement: “The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr Ebrahim Rasool. The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter. South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.” The statement reflects Pretoria’s intent to de-escalate tensions while preserving ties with a key trade partner.
Rising Tensions: Beyond the Remarks
The incident is the latest flashpoint in a strained US-South Africa relationship. Tensions have been brewing over South Africa’s Land Expropriation Act, which allows land seizures without compensation – a policy the US claims targets white farmers and violates property rights. Trump’s recent executive order cutting aid to South Africa highlighted these concerns, accusing the government of enabling “genocide” against Afrikaners.
South Africa’s growing ties with Russia, Iran, and BRICS nations have also irked Washington. Bruce noted during her briefing: “The unjust land expropriation law, as well as its growing relationship with countries like Russia and Iran, that’s what prompted the serious review of our South Africa policy, which continues to be underway.” She pointed to South Africa’s positions at the International Court of Justice – accusing Israel, not Hamas, of genocide – and its military and nuclear dealings with Iran as further aggravations.
Political Reactions in South Africa
The expulsion has triggered a firestorm of responses from South African political players:
Democratic Alliance (DA): A Call for Action
The DA, the official opposition, called on President Ramaphosa to send a Government of National Unity (GNU) delegation to the US to repair relations. Spokesperson Willie Aucamp said: “The DA deems the situation in the US concerning. Our ambassador there as deeply unfortunate and we call on the president to expedite the GNU delegation to the USA to negotiate a pathway towards stabilisation of the diplomatic relations with one of our country’s most important trade and investment partners.” Aucamp also criticized the ANC’s dominance over foreign policy, arguing it’s unfair for a party with only 39% electoral support to have “carte blanche” on such matters.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF): Defiance Against Trump
The EFF took a combative stance, with spokesperson Sinawo Thambo accusing the Trump administration of bullying South Africa. “The hostile position adopted by the Trump administration against South Africa is not surprising,” Thambo said. He claimed Trump is influenced by white South Africans who fled during the transition to democracy, working with groups like AfriForum and Solidarity to pressure Pretoria over laws like the Expropriation Bill, National Health Insurance (NHI), and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA). Thambo warned against appointing Joel Pollak – a Breitbart writer and alleged “white supremacist” – as the new US ambassador, vowing to block his entry into South Africa.
AfriForum: Blaming the ANC
Lobby group AfriForum accused the ANC of “gambling with the country’s future.” CEO Kallie Kriel said: “ANC leaders and their deployed cadre Ebrahim Rasool should take direct responsibility for the escalation of tensions between South Africa and the US.” Kriel warned that continued friction could hurt South Africa economically, urging a “change of direction” in policy.
SACP: Standing Firm
South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Solly Mapaila, speaking on the Redmic podcast, called Rasool’s expulsion a “badge of honor” for resisting US imperialism. “We should not be afraid about that; we should actually welcome that,” Mapaila said. “I just hope that our government is not going to be crawling around trying to beg for relations with the United States.” He urged South Africa to engage with dignity, criticizing Trump’s administration for throwing out “every rule book possible.”
Economic Stakes: Trade and Investment at Risk
The US is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners, with billions in annual trade under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The diplomatic row threatens this relationship, with fears that South Africa could lose AGOA benefits. Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) chairperson Martin Kingston warned: “Any disruption to that relationship could have serious repercussions for our economy.” Analysts estimate that losing AGOA could cost South Africa thousands of jobs and billions of rands in exports, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
The US’s aid cuts, tied to the Expropriation Act, have already hit development projects. With South Africa’s economy battling unemployment and slow growth, the stakes are high for Ramaphosa’s administration to mend fences.
A Rare Move in Diplomacy
Expelling an ambassador is an extraordinary step, typically reserved for espionage or severe breaches of protocol. Historical precedents, like US-Russia tensions during the Cold War or after Crimea’s annexation, rarely saw ambassadors targeted. Rasool’s case – expelled after just two months in the US – marks a low point in US-South Africa relations, which have historically been stable despite occasional disagreements.
Experts suggest South Africa might retaliate by expelling a US diplomat, though its economic dependence on America may push Pretoria towards reconciliation instead.
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