The South African ambassador, expelled from the US and labeled persona non grata by the Trump administration, received a warm welcome back home from hundreds of supporters who sang in praise of him at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday. Crowds surrounded the ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, and his wife, Rosieda, as they arrived, with the need for a police escort to help them through the terminal. Addressing his supporters with a megaphone, Rasool declared that being persona non grata, meant to humiliate, felt instead like a badge of dignity due to the warm reception. He clarified that their return was not a choice but expressed no regrets.
Rasool’s expulsion resulted from his comments during a webinar, where he mentioned the MAGA movement as a partial reaction to a “supremacist instinct,” highlighting demographic shifts in the US. Upon his return, Rasool emphasized the importance of repairing South Africa’s relationship with the US, fueled by the perceived anti-American stance under Trump’s orders cutting funding and accusing the country of supporting Hamas and Iran, and promoting anti-white policies. Rasool assured the crowd, emphasizing their stance was not anti-American but focused on protecting South Africa’s interests.
Rasool’s declaration and the welcoming event marked the ambassador’s first public comments since his diplomatic immunities were revoked, signifying a rare move by the US to expel an ambassador. Declared persona non grata by Secretary of State Marco Rubio a week prior, Rasool responded to accusations by maintaining that his comments were purely analytical, pointing out the need for a shift in diplomatic language due to changes in US politics and demographics.
In closing, Rasool affirmed South Africa’s resolve to stand firm against external pressures, particularly regarding their pending case at the international court of justice, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—a stance that the Trump administration cited as evidence of South Africa’s anti-American position.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/23/south-african-ambassador-expelled-from-us-welcomed-home-by-supporters
