Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially declared that South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool is no longer welcome in the United States after inflammatory remarks about President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
On Friday, Rubio took to social media platform X, calling Rasool a:
“Race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.”
Rubio further announced:
“We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
The move follows a Breitbart News report exposing Rasool’s recent speech at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Johannesburg, where he claimed Trump was leading a global white supremacist movement.
Rasool’s Controversial Statements Spark Diplomatic Fallout
During the event, Rasool argued that Trump’s policies—including his opposition to South Africa’s land expropriation legislation and its alliances with Iran and Hamas—were part of a broader “supremacist insurgency.”
“What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency by mobilizing supremacism at home and abroad,” Rasool claimed.
He specifically cited MAGA supporters, claiming their movement was fueled by fears over demographic shifts in the U.S.
“The Make America Great Again movement is a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA, where the voting electorate is projected to become 48% white,” Rasool continued.
He further connected Trump’s influence to global nationalist movements, accusing Elon Musk of elevating Nigel Farage and the UK’s Reform Party, as well as Vice President J.D. Vance of engaging with Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
“It’s no accident that Elon Musk has involved himself in UK politics and elevated Nigel Farage,” Rasool asserted.
“Vice President Vance addressed the AfD to strengthen them in their election campaign.”
He concluded by positioning South Africa as the leader in resisting Trump’s alleged movement, claiming:
“Our nation is the historical antidote to supremacism.”
Rasool’s Ties to Hamas and Struggles in Washington
Rasool’s diplomatic standing in Washington, D.C., was already on shaky ground before his expulsion.
According to Semafor, Rasool has been “frozen out” by key political players in the U.S., struggling to gain traction. His history of supporting Hamas has further alienated him from U.S. policymakers.
With Rubio’s decisive action, Rasool is now officially persona non grata, marking a significant diplomatic shift in U.S.-South Africa relations under the Trump administration.