Trump Admin Orders South African Ambassador to Leave U.S. by Friday

The State Department has said that the South African ambassador to the United States who was declared “persona grata” by the United States last week must leave the country no later than Friday.

The State Department summoned South African Embassy staff to explain the decision after Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool would no longer be welcome in the U.S. He posted the decision on social media Friday. Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed this.

She stated that Rasool’s diplomatic privileges and immunities expired on Monday and he will be required to depart the United States by Friday.

In a TV interview conducted on Monday, Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the South African Foreign Ministry said that Rasool is still in America but will be departing as soon as possible.

Rubio announced the decision via a Facebook post as he flew back to America from a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of 7 in Canada. Rasool was accused of being a racist politician who hates Donald Trump in the post.

His post included a link to an article by the conservative Breitbart News site, which described a speech Rasool had given earlier on Friday in Johannesburg during a South African Think Tank’s webinar. Rasool spoke by videoconference about the actions taken by Trump’s administration, in light of the fact that white people will soon no longer make up the majority in the United States.

The U.S. rarely expels a foreign diplomat, but lower-ranking officials are often given persona non grata treatment.

Rubio’s move was the latest Trump administration action against South Africa. Trump signed an executive order to halt funding for the country last month. The report criticized the Black South African government in multiple ways, including its anti-white policies and support for “bad actors” around the world such as the Palestinian militant group Hamas or Iran.

Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, told journalists on Monday that Rasool will give him a full report once he returns home.

Ramaphosa stated that his government had “noted the disappointment that has been expressed by the United States,” in particular about Rasool’s remarks. However, he stressed that South Africa is on the path to rebuilding its relationship.

He said, “This is just a minor hiccup. We are working to fix it.”

Ramaphosa stated, “We will engage the United States of America on a formal basis, We will do this with deep respect both for the United States and President Trump. Our relationship with the United States will be on a level keel. I want the people of South Africa to not have sleepless nights.”

Bruce said that the United States demands a certain degree of respect.

“We’ve had a decent level of diplomacy with South Africa. There are some challenges, but you want people in each embassy who can facilitate a relationship,” she told reporters on Monday. “And these remarks were unacceptable to the United States, not just to the president, but to every American.”

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said South Africa would raise questions with the U.S. about Rubio’s apparent announcement on social media that Rasool is no longer welcome in the U.S., before informing Rasool of the decision.

Phiri, a South African diplomat, said that South Africa believes such issues should be first discussed via diplomatic channels. But this is a reality we have to deal with as well with this administration. It does seem that Twitter (X), is the preferred method of communication,” said the spokesman in an interview with the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.

Bruce confirmed that the meeting was held on Friday with South African Embassy staff. Rubio’s Friday post was sent out at 4:42 pm.