US President Donald Trump has nominated Leo Brent Bozell III, a conservative media critic and pro-Israel commentator, as the new ambassador to South Africa.
This move comes amid worsening diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Bozell’s nomination follows the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, from Washington due to remarks deemed critical of Trump.
The Trump administration has also condemned South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice and accused the country of discriminating against white South Africans to seize their land.
Bozell, 69, has founded several conservative media organizations, including the Media Research Center, which aims to identify liberal bias.
His son, Leo, was convicted and sentenced to nearly four years in prison for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The nomination must still be confirmed by the US Senate. If confirmed, Bozell will face the challenge of improving diplomatic relations between the US and South Africa, which have deteriorated sharply under Trump.
