Washington D.C.(The Crustian Daily) – The United States has expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, after he publicly criticized President Donald Trump, according to Marco Rubio.

Rasool was declared persona non grata on Friday and given 72 hours to leave the country. The U.S. State Department cited “inflammatory public statements” and “undiplomatic conduct” as the reason for his expulsion. The move follows a series of remarks in which Rasool condemned the Trump administration’s foreign policy as “destabilizing” and accused the U.S. of pursuing “imperialist objectives” in the Global South.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has formally protested the expulsion, calling it “an overreaction that undermines diplomatic norms.” Government officials in Pretoria stated that Rasool was exercising his right to defend South Africa’s sovereignty and foreign policy stance, including its vocal opposition to U.S. positions on Israel-Palestine, global trade, and climate agreements.

The expulsion marks a significant escalation in U.S.–South Africa relations, already strained by South Africa’s decision to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Rasool, a former anti-apartheid activist and prominent Muslim voice in international diplomacy, has not issued a public statement since the expulsion order.