Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador who was declared persona non grata and expelled from the United States by the Trump administration, received a hero’s welcome upon his return home on Sunday. Supporters numbering in the hundreds gathered at Cape Town International Airport to sing songs in his honor. Rasool and his wife Rosieda were surrounded by the welcoming crowd as they emerged and required a police escort to make their way through the airport. Rasool emphasized the importance of mending South Africa’s relationship with the U.S., following President Donald Trump’s sanctions and accusations of the country holding an anti-American stance prior to Rasool’s expulsion.

Last month, President Trump issued an executive order halting all funding to South Africa, claiming that the country supports Hamas and Iran and pursues anti-white policies domestically. Rasool clarified to the crowd, “We are not here to be anti-American. We are not here to throw away our interests with the United States.” This marked the ex-ambassador’s first public remarks since being declared persona non grata over a week ago, at which point his diplomatic immunities and privileges were revoked and he was given until Friday to leave the U.S.

The expulsion of Rasool by the U.S. is highly unusual. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Rasool as a “race-baiting politician” who harbors hatred for the U.S. and Trump. This was in response to a talk Rasool gave at a webinar organized by a South African think tank, where he discussed the Trump administration’s measures against diversity, equity programs, immigration, and the prospect of a U.S. where whites would no longer form the majority. Rasool maintained that his comments were aimed at alerting intellectuals and political leaders in South Africa to the shifting U.S. politics.

Upon his return, Rasool reiterated his support for those statements, indicating his intent to inform others about the changing U.S. dynamics. He also affirmed South Africa’s resistance to pressure from the U.S. and others to drop its case at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Trump administration cited this case as evidence of South Africa’s anti-American stance. During his welcome, Rasool reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to supporting Palestine and maintaining its relationship with the U.S. while upholding its dignity.