South Africa's Envoy: Unwelcome in the USA

In a surprising move, South Africa's ambassador to the U. S. was suddenly declared unwelcome by the Trump administration. This decision came from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labeled Ebrahim Rasool a "race-baiting politician" with a dislike for President Trump. This sudden shift in diplomatic relations is unusual, as expelling foreign ambassadors is rare. The Trump administration has been critical of South Africa's new land law, claiming it discriminates against white people. This law, however, aims to address past injustices from the apartheid era, where Black people had their land taken away. The South African government has denied any racial bias in their land law, calling Trump's claims misinformed. Trump has also offered refugee status to Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch colonial settlers, who are only a small part of South Africa's white minority. Elon Musk, a key ally of Trump, has also criticized South Africa's government and its land law, calling it a threat to the white minority. Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador, has a history of activism against apartheid. He was previously imprisoned for his activism and later became a politician. In a recent webinar, Rasool discussed the Trump administration's policies on diversity and immigration, highlighting the demographic shifts in the U. S. and the "Make America Great Again" movement. He advised against antagonizing the U. S. and suggested a more diplomatic approach. The Trump administration has also cut aid to South Africa, citing the new land law as a reason. This move has been criticized by South Africa's government, which has denied any racial bias in their land law. The South African government has also denied any racial bias in their land law, calling Trump's claims misinformed. The expulsion of Rasool comes after Trump signed an executive order that cut aid and assistance to the Black-led South African government. In the order, Trump said South Africa’s Afrikaners, who are descendants of mainly Dutch colonial settlers, were being targeted by a new law that allows the government to expropriate private land. The South African government has denied its new law is tied to race and says Trump’s claims over the country and the law have been full of misinformation and distortions. Trump said land was being expropriated from Afrikaners, when no land has been taken under the law. The law allows the government to take land in specific instances where it is not being used, or where it would be in the public interest if it is redistributed. It aims to address some of the wrongs of South Africa’s racist apartheid era, when Black people had land taken away from them.