The South African ambassador, who was expelled from the United States and labeled persona non grata by the Trump administration, received a warm welcome upon his return home on Sunday. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the airport, singing songs in his honor.
At Cape Town International Airport, Ebrahim Rasool and his wife Rosieda were greeted by enthusiastic crowds as they arrived in their hometown, requiring police assistance to navigate through the throngs of well-wishers.
Rasool emphasized the need for South Africa to mend its relationship with the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s punitive measures against the country, which included accusations of an anti-American stance prior to Rasool’s expulsion.
Last month, the U.S. president issued an executive order halting all funding to South Africa, claiming that its government supports the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran, while also implementing anti-white policies domestically. “We are not here to express anti-American sentiments,” Rasool told the crowd, “nor are we advocating for severing our interests with the United States.”
These remarks marked Rasool’s first public statements since the Trump administration designated him persona non grata over a week ago, stripping him of his diplomatic immunities and privileges, and ordering him to leave the U.S. by Friday. It is quite rare for the U.S. to expel a foreign ambassador.
Rasool was declared persona non grata by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a post on X on March 14, where Rubio described him as a “race-baiting politician” who harbors animosity towards the U.S. and Trump.
Rubio’s post referenced an article from the conservative news outlet Breitbart, which covered a webinar presentation by Rasool hosted by a South African think tank. During his presentation, Rasool utilized academic terminology to discuss the Trump administration’s actions against diversity and equity initiatives, as well as immigration policies. He also highlighted the potential for a future U.S. where white individuals may no longer constitute the majority.
Rasool stated, “The supremacist assault on incumbency is evident in the domestic politics of the U.S.A., particularly within the MAGA movement, which is not just a reaction to a supremacist mindset but is also driven by clear demographic data indicating significant shifts in the U.S. population, with projections showing that the voting electorate will soon be 48% white.”
Upon returning home on Sunday, he reaffirmed his statements, explaining that his intention was to inform intellectuals and political figures in South Africa about the evolving political landscape in the U.S.
Additionally, he asserted that South Africa would resist any external pressure, including from the U.S., to withdraw its case at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Trump administration has pointed to this case as part of its rationale for labeling South Africa as anti-American.
The Breitbart article referenced by Rubio during the announcement of Rasool’s expulsion was authored by Joel Pollak, a senior editor-at-large who was born in South Africa, is Jewish, and supports the Trump administration.
According to South African media, Pollak is also a candidate for the position of U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Upon Rasool’s return to Cape Town, some of his supporters, who are Muslim, waved Palestinian flags and shouted “free Palestine.”
“As we gather here, the bombings in Gaza and the ongoing shootings persist. If South Africa were not part of the International Court of Justice, Israel would remain unaccountable, and the Palestinians would be left without hope,” Rasool stated. “We cannot abandon the Palestinians… yet we will not sever our ties with the United States. We must advocate for it while maintaining our dignity.”
