The United States has condemned remarks made by South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, about President Donald Trump, calling them “unacceptable”.
A US State Department spokesperson made this statement on Monday, after Washington decided to expel Rasool last week.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Trump cut US financial aid to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The final straw was an article quoting Rasool as saying Trump was leading a “white supremacist movement”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Rasool’s expulsion on Saturday in a post on X calling him a “race-baiting politician” who hates Trump.
Rubio reposted the article from Breitbart, a right-wing website.
“These remarks were unacceptable to the United States, not just to the president, but to every American.
“At the very least, what we should expect is a standard of some respect – basic, low-level respect – if you’re in a position that is going to help facilitate any kind of diplomatic relationship with another country,” state department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce said.