News Desk
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s erratic foreign policy took another wild swing when Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata. In a brash X post, Rubio sneered that Rasool—a seasoned diplomat—“hates America” and “hates @POTUS,” branding him a “race-baiting politician.” The move, abrupt and undiplomatic, underscores the unpredictable chaos of Trump’s second term, leaving allies and adversaries alike scrambling to decode U.S. intent.
South Africa’s embassy hasn’t responded, but the expulsion follows President Donald Trump’s February executive order slashing aid to Pretoria.
Trump’s gripe? A South African land reform law he claims targets white farmers—never mind that it’s a constitutional effort to heal apartheid’s wounds. He even invited those farmers to resettle in the U.S., a populist stunt that’s inflamed tensions further. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa fired back on X, defending the policy as a duty to “redress past racial discrimination” and slamming America’s “mischaracterization” of his nation’s laws.
While the U.S. postures and punishes, South Africa stands out for its principled grit. Beyond its domestic struggles, it’s been a lifeline for vulnerable communities under occupation—like Palestinians—offering aid and advocacy where Washington wavers or withdraws. Ramaphosa’s government has called out U.S. hypocrisy before, notably on human rights, and this latest spat only widens the rift. Trump’s team, with Rubio as its megaphone, seems more intent on settling scores than building bridges, leaving South Africa’s efforts to support the oppressed a rare beacon in a world of diplomatic disarray.
