The recent controversy surrounding U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's remarks about South African Ambassador Rasool stems from a virtual speech Rasool delivered to a think tank in Johannesburg. During this address, Rasool accused former President Donald Trump of “mobilizing” white supremacy, not only within the United States but also on a global scale. This assertion was highlighted in a Breitbart News article that Rubio referenced in his social media post.
Rasool specifically criticized Vice President JD Vance for his support of Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany political party. He also pointed out the significant presence of Elon Musk, a White South African who has backed various conservative movements internationally, within the Trump administration. This connection drew Rubio's ire, as he echoed the sentiments expressed in the Breitbart article.
In his post on the social media platform X, which is owned by Musk, Rubio initially repeated a misspelling of Rasool's first name as reported by Breitbart. He later corrected this error in a subsequent post. This incident marks the latest chapter in Rubio's long-standing criticisms of the South African government, particularly following an executive order issued by Trump that condemned new legislation aimed at expropriating unused agricultural land.
Last month, Trump ordered a halt to all U.S. assistance programs to South Africa and proposed resettlement for Afrikaners—an ethnic group descended from Dutch settlers—who face what he termed "unjust racial discrimination." The Afrikaner political party had historically enforced oppressive racial laws, known as apartheid, against the Black majority in South Africa.
During the 1980s, the U.S. government imposed economic sanctions against the Afrikaner-led government, contributing to the end of apartheid and paving the way for South Africa's first multiracial elections in 1994. Since then, the country has been predominantly governed by the African National Congress party, which rose to power under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.
Ambassador Rasool was not immediately available for comment, and his physical presence in Washington during the speech remains unclear. In response to Rubio's tweet, South Africa's Foreign Ministry announced plans to address the issue through diplomatic channels. Rasool's remarks at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection focused on the evolving relationship between South Africa and the Trump administration, emphasizing the importance of maintaining perspective in these discussions.
Rasool noted that the Biden administration had initiated discussions about potentially removing South Africa from the duty-free access benefits offered under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This move was motivated by concerns over South Africa's geopolitical stances, particularly its criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza before the International Criminal Court.
Rasool advised his fellow South Africans to “stay calm and don’t panic” as the cooperative relationship with the United States becomes increasingly strained. He pointed out that South Africa is not the only nation facing scrutiny from the administration, but it holds a unique position as a historical counter to supremacism.
Rubio declined to participate in a recent G-20 meeting hosted by South Africa, citing concerns that the country was using the platform to advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and climate change agendas. He stated, “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.”
Rasool presented his credentials as South Africa's ambassador to President Joe Biden just days before Trump's inauguration on January 20. He previously held the same ambassadorial role from 2010 to 2015 and has a background as the premier of the Western Cape province and as a member of the National Assembly.
