Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that South African Ambassador Embrahim Rasool is considered persona non grata in the U.S., following Rasool’s comments about President Trump and the MAGA movement. This escalates existing diplomatic tensions regarding South Africa’s land expropriation policy and its foreign policies, particularly concerning Israel and Iran.
On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that South African Ambassador Embrahim Rasool is no longer welcome in the United States, labeling him a “race-baiting” politician who expresses disdain for both America and President Donald Trump. This statement follows Rasool’s controversial remarks regarding Trump’s purported alignment with a global White supremacist movement during a speech in Johannesburg.
In his address at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, Rasool claimed that Trump’s opposition to South Africa’s expropriation law and stance on Israel were manifestations of White supremacy. He asserted that the Make America Great Again movement is a reaction to demographic shifts in the United States, categorizing it as an assault on incumbency and an expression of supremacist ideologies.
Rubio took to social media to rebuke Rasool’s accusations, stating, “South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.” He firmly positioned Rasool as “persona non grata,” emphasizing that there would be no further discussions with him.
Trump has been critical of the South African government’s Expropriation Act, which allows for land seizures without compensation, depending on public necessity. In a previous executive order, Trump outlined that such policies disregard citizens’ rights and that the United States would cease aid to South Africa while promoting the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees fleeing government-sanctioned race discrimination.
Additionally, the executive order condemned South Africa’s actions against Israel and its relationships with Iran, stating that the U.S. cannot support violations of rights within South Africa or policies that undermine U.S. foreign policy interests. The South African government counters these claims, asserting that the Expropriation Act will be applied equitably and that fair compensation would be offered for any land taken for public purposes.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s rejection of South African Ambassador Embrahim Rasool highlights escalating tensions between the U.S. and South Africa over issues of race and property rights. Rasool’s remarks linking Trump and the MAGA movement to White supremacy have prompted U.S. officials to take a strong diplomatic stance, resulting in Rasool’s designation as persona non grata. Moreover, the implications of South Africa’s Expropriation Act and its impacts on international relations remain to be deeply scrutinized moving forward.
Original Source: www.foxnews.com
