Rubio declares South African ambassador persona non grata

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday declared South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool as persona non grata.

In a post on social media platform X, Rubio called Rasool a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and President Donald Trump.

"We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA," wrote Rubio.

Rubio did not provide a specific reason for the move but linked his post to a Breitbart article titled "South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool: Trump is Leading Global White Supremacist Movement."

U.S. media outlet CNN pointed out that the declaration against Rasool "is the latest chapter in the plummeting relationship" between the two countries.

The report noted that tensions existed under the Joe Biden administration. Since Trump began his second term, Washington has taken a series of punitive measures against South Africa.

According to the report, both Trump and South African-born Elon Musk have alleged that white farmers in South Africa are being discriminated against under land reform policies that South Africa's government says are necessary to remedy the legacy of apartheid. ■