Ebrahim Rasool, the former South African ambassador expelled by the Trump administration and declared persona non grata, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to South Africa on Sunday. Hundreds of supporters gathered at Cape Town International Airport, singing songs and surrounding Rasool and his wife, Rosieda, as they made their way through the arrivals terminal. A police escort was required to navigate the crowd.
Rasool was expelled from the United States after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March that cut all funding to South Africa. The U.S. accused South Africa’s government of supporting Palestinian militant group Hamas and backing Iran, while allegedly pursuing anti-white policies domestically. The expulsion of an ambassador is highly unusual in diplomatic practice.
Rasool addressed the crowd during his homecoming, emphasizing that South Africa does not aim to be anti-American despite the tense diplomatic fallout. He stressed the importance of restoring the country’s relationship with the U.S., stating, “We don’t come here to say we are anti-American. We are not here to call on you to throw away our interests with the United States.”
Rasool’s expulsion followed a series of controversial remarks made during a webinar organized by a South African think tank, where he discussed U.S. demographic shifts and the rise of right-wing politics under Trump. In his speech, Rasool critiqued the Trump administration’s policies, including the crackdown on diversity, equity programs, and immigration. He also noted the demographic changes in the U.S. that could result in white Americans becoming a minority. These comments, highlighted in a Breitbart News story by South African-born editor Joel Pollak, contributed to Rasool’s ouster, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling him a “race-baiting politician” who harbored anti-American sentiments.
Despite the controversy, Rasool defended his remarks, asserting that they were intended to alert South African intellectuals and political leaders to the shifting political landscape in the U.S. He also reiterated South Africa’s commitment to continuing its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a move the Trump administration has criticized.
During the warm reception at the airport, some of Rasool’s supporters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine,” expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Rasool himself voiced his commitment to resisting U.S. pressure on the matter, saying, “We cannot sacrifice the Palestinians… but we will also not give up with our relationship with the United States. We must fight for it, but we must keep our dignity.”
The political and diplomatic tension between South Africa and the U.S. remains high, particularly over issues relating to Israel and the Palestinian conflict. The ongoing case at the ICJ, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide, continues to be a point of contention with the U.S. administration.
Rasool’s return to South Africa and his comments underscore the growing divide between the two countries, as well as South Africa’s firm stance on international justice, regardless of U.S. opposition.
