- The US has expelled South African Ambassador Embrahim Rasool over controversial comments about Donald Trump.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled him a “race-baiting politician” and declared him persona non grata.
- Rasool accused Trump of leading a global white supremacist movement.
- His remarks linked Trump’s influence to MAGA, Brexit, and European far-right politics.
The United States government has expelled South Africa’s Ambassador, Embrahim Rasool, following his recent comments about former President Donald Trump.
Confirming the move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Rasool had displayed hostility toward America and its leadership, leading to his immediate expulsion.
“We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio declared on social media.
What Led to the Expulsion?
While speaking at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rasool accused Trump of mobilizing a white supremacist movement in the US and globally.
Rasool’s Controversial Remarks
In his address, the ambassador suggested that Trump’s political strategy was aimed at securing power through racial and nationalist mobilization.
“What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency—those in power—by mobilizing a supremacist movement both at home and abroad. This can be seen in the domestic politics of the US, particularly the MAGA movement, which is not just driven by nativist and racist instincts but also by demographic data showing a decline in the white majority,” Rasool stated.
He further claimed that Trump’s influence extended beyond the US, citing billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in UK politics and alleged connections to Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party.
According to Rasool, these actions aimed to create a global movement of embattled white communities, even where the sense of victimhood was more perception than reality.
Diplomatic Fallout
The remarks sparked backlash in the US government, with officials viewing them as inflammatory and inappropriate for diplomats.
With Rasool now expelled, it remains to be seen how South Africa’s government will respond to the decision and whether it will impact diplomatic relations between the two nations.
