Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s former ambassador to the US, has made explosive claims that the Trump administration is racist. In an interview with the BBC, Rasool stated that racism within the administration is “self-evident”.
Rasool’s comments came after he was ordered to leave the US by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labeled him a “race-baiting politician who hates America”. The diplomat had previously accused President Donald Trump of promoting “white victimhood” and mobilizing “far-right communities”.
Rasool cited several examples to support his claims, including the administration’s emphasis on deporting migrants and targeting foreign students who support pro-Palestinian protests. He also denied that South Africa’s white Afrikaner community faces discrimination, calling it an “unadulterated lie”.
The Trump administration has denied accusations of racism, with the president claiming he has a mandate to deport migrants who entered the US illegally. The US has also cut aid to South Africa and criticized the country’s land reform policies.
Rasool’s expulsion has further strained relations between the US and South Africa, which have deteriorated since Trump’s return to power in January.
