March 15, 2025 (EIRNS)—U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on March 14, declared South Africa’s ambassador Ebrahim Rasool “persona non grata,” writing on his X account that “he is no longer welcome in our great country.” He called Rasool “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS,” U.S. President Donald Trump. Rubio concluded, “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
Rasool was reappointed as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States in November 2024 by executive order of South Africa and confirmed only a few days before Trump assumed office on January 20. Rassoul previously served as South Africa’s ambassador during the Obama Administration from 2010 to 2015.
