“Persona Non Grata” Expelled out of US to South Africa
Ambassador Expelled Over Controversial Remarks
The South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, was officially expelled and declared persona non grata by the Trump administration in an unusually harsh diplomatic maneuver. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on social media platform X, stating bluntly that “South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. is no longer welcome in our great country.” The expulsion followed controversial comments Rasool made during a webinar where he characterized the Make America Great Again movement as responding to a “supremacist instinct” amid demographic changes in America.
In his webinar remarks that sparked the controversy, Rasool specifically referenced demographic projections showing shifts in the American electorate. “The supremacist assault on incumbency, we see it in the domestic politics of the U.S.A., the MAGA movement, the Make America Great Again movement, as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the U.S.A. in which the voting electorate in the U.S.A. is projected to become 48% white,” Rasool said during the online event that ultimately cost him his diplomatic post.
Hero’s Welcome in South Africa
Rather than returning in disgrace, Rasool received a hero’s welcome upon his arrival at Cape Town International Airport, where hundreds of supporters gathered with Palestinian flags and chanted “free Palestine.” The ousted diplomat appeared defiant about his expulsion, turning what was intended as a punishment into what he described as a badge of honor. Many of his supporters view his removal as evidence of his principled stance against what they perceive as American imperialism and unwavering support for Israel despite ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
“A declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you, But when you return to crowds like this, and with warmth … like this, then I will wear my persona non grata as a badge of dignity.”
Rasool stood firmly by his statements, insisting they were analytical observations en lugar de ataques personales. During his airport remarks, he emphasized that his comments were aimed at examining political phenomena, not criticizing individuals or nations. However, he also acknowledged the need to repair the damaged diplomatic relationship with the United States, South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, even while maintaining that South Africa would not abandon its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice despite American pressure.
Deteriorating U.S.-South Africa Relations
The expulsion marks a significant deterioration in relations between the United States and South Africa, which were already strained due to other points of contention. Prior to this incident, the U.S. had reduced financial assistance to South Africa in response to the country’s controversial Expropriation Act, which allows for land seizure without compensation. This policy has alarmed many international observers and investors concerned about property rights and economic stability in the region.
“Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates Trump. We have nothing to discuss with him.”
The South African government’s response to the expulsion has been measured but defensive. President Ramaphosa’s office called the expulsion “regrettable” while emphasizing South Africa’s desire for a “mutually beneficial relationship” with the United States. Meanwhile, Secretary Rubio’s decision to skip the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg further underscores the widening rift between the two nations. The diplomatic fallout raises serious questions about the future of U.S.-South Africa relations and what steps might be necessary to repair ties in the coming months.
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