Unpacking the Ebrahim Rasool Incident: The Expulsion of South Africa’s US Ambassador

Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's ambassador to Washington, was expelled by the Trump administration in March 2025, following comments made during a webinar. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him of harboring animosity towards Trump. Relations between the two nations had already soured, exacerbated by Trump's controversial policies regarding South Africa. Peter Vale, an authority on South African affairs, provides insights on Rasool's expulsion, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of diplomacy and the complex responsibilities ambassadors face in turbulent times.