South African Ambassador Expelled by Trump Gets a Hero’s Welcome Back Home
Cape Town Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador recently kicked out of the U.S. by the Trump administration, returned home to a massive show of support. Hundreds of people gathered at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday, singing and cheering as he walked through the terminal with his wife, Rosieda.
Surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd, Rasool needed a police escort just to make his way through. He didn’t seem bothered by his expulsion, though in fact, he wore it like a badge of honor.
“A persona non grata declaration is supposed to humiliate you,” he told supporters through a megaphone. “But when you return to a welcome like this, it becomes a badge of dignity.”
U.S.-South Africa Tensions
Rasool’s removal came amid rising tensions between the two countries. Last month, President Trump signed an order cutting U.S. funding to South Africa, accusing the government of supporting Hamas and Iran while also pushing “anti-white policies.”
Despite his forced departure, Rasool made it clear that he doesn’t want South Africa to sever ties with the U.S. “We are not anti-American,” he said. “We won’t throw away our interests with the United States.”
Standing by His Words
The Trump administration, specifically Secretary of State Marco Rubio, justified Rasool’s expulsion by citing a speech he gave during a webinar in which he discussed shifting demographics in the U.S. and the rise of the MAGA movement. In that talk, he described the movement as a reaction to data showing that white voters in the U.S. are expected to drop below 50% of the electorate.
Rubio called him a “race-baiting politician” and accused him of being anti-American, citing a Breitbart article that highlighted the speech.
But Rasool isn’t backing down. Speaking to the crowd in Cape Town, he defended his words, saying, “I was analyzing a political trend, not attacking a person, a nation, or even a government.”
The Bigger Picture
Rasool also took a firm stance on South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Trump administration cited this as another reason for cutting ties, but Rasool said the case is crucial in exposing what’s happening in Gaza.
“If South Africa wasn’t in the ICJ, Israel wouldn’t be exposed, and Palestinians would have no hope,” he said.
Among the supporters at the airport, some waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine.”
What’s Next?
While tensions between the U.S. and South Africa remain high, Rasool made it clear that his country will stand its ground. “We won’t abandon the Palestinians, but we also won’t give up on our relationship with the United States,” he said. “We have to fight for it, but we must keep our dignity.”
From Ousted to Honored: SA Ambassador Returns to Cheers After Trump’s Expulsion
