Declaration comes after Trump administration cut off aid to South Africa
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seeking to expel South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool, after the official criticized Donald Trump during a forum on Thursday.
“South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio wrote on X.
He accused Rasool, in a post that misspelled the ambassador’s name, of being “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates [the president of the United States] @POTUS.”
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio added.
The Independent has contacted the South African Embassy in Washington for comment.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.