Ebrahim Rasool Welcomed Home After US Expulsion

Ebrahim Rasool, the former South African ambassador to the U.S., returned to Cape Town to a hero's welcome after being expelled by the Trump administration and declared persona non grata. Upon his arrival, he addressed supporters, emphasizing the importance of mending U.S.-South Africa relations despite tensions stemming from Trump's accusations of anti-Americanism and support for groups like Hamas. Rasool, who was expelled following comments linking Trump's MAGA movement to a supremacist instinct, wore his persona non grata status as a 'badge of dignity.' He reiterated South Africa's commitment to its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, while stating that the country would not sacrifice its relationship with the U.S. for the Palestinians. Supporters at the airport waved Palestinian flags, reflecting strong pro-Palestinian sentiment in South Africa, as Rasool called for dignity in diplomatic relations. The U.S. had cut funding to South Africa in response to these geopolitical tensions, making Rasool's return significant in the context of international relations.