South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool Returns Home After U.S. Expulsion

Rasool, expelled by the Trump administration over comments on MAGA, calls his persona non grata status a badge of dignity while urging balanced U.S.-South Africa relations.

Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the U.S. after being declared persona non grata by Secretary of State Marco Rubio over remarks on the MAGA movement and U.S. demographics.
Rasool received a hero's welcome at Cape Town International Airport, where he addressed supporters and defended his comments as an analysis of political phenomena, not an attack on the U.S.
The Trump administration froze financial aid to South Africa, citing alleged anti-white land policies, support for Hamas and Iran, and South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel.
Rasool emphasized the importance of maintaining South Africa's dignity while repairing relations with the U.S., its second-largest trading partner, and upholding its stance on key issues.
South Africa's leadership, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, plans to engage with the U.S. while continuing to support its genocide case against Israel and addressing domestic challenges.