Washington: The US has expelled South African Ambassador Ibrahim Rasouli. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that Rasouli has been declared a ‘persona non grata’ because he ‘hates’ President Donald Trump and the US.

It should be noted that relations between the US and South Africa have been tense in recent times, especially after the US decided to cut financial aid to South Africa. In addition, the Trump administration is also angry over South Africa’s land policy and the case filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Marco Rubio wrote on the social media platform X, “The South African ambassador cannot be welcomed in the United States. “We have nothing to talk to them about, so they are considered persona non grata.” Rubio reposted an article from the right-wing website Breitbart, which claimed that Ibrahim Rasoul had called Trump the leader of a ‘white supremacist’ movement.

The South African presidential office expressed regret over Rasoul’s expulsion but said it was committed to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States. Crispin Ferry, a spokesman for the South African foreign ministry, said his government would discuss the matter through diplomatic channels.

Rasoul presented his diplomatic credentials to then-President Joe Biden on January 13. His appointment came a week before Trump took office. According to some media reports, Ibrahim Rasoul’s pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel are also being considered as possible reasons for his expulsion.