Hundreds of supporters welcomed South Africa's ambassador Ebrahim Rasool at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday after his expulsion from the United States under the Trump administration. Sporting a megaphone, Rasool addressed the assembled crowd, stating, "A declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you. But when you return to crowds like this, and with warmth ... like this, then I will wear my persona non grata as a badge of dignity." His remarks came after being declared persona non grata due to comments that included criticism of the Trump administration's policies, particularly the Make America Great Again movement, which he described as a response to "a supremacist instinct."

The former ambassador expressed the need for South Africa to mend its relationship with the U.S., which had suffered due to accusations from Trump claiming the country supported Hamas and pursued anti-white policies. “We don’t come here to say we are anti-American,” Rasool clarified, emphasizing the importance of preserving South Africa’s interests with the United States. This was part of his first public comments following the expulsion announcement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which he described as highly unusual for diplomatic relations.

Rasool's expulsion was propelled by comments he made during a webinar, discussing the demographic shifts in the U.S. and their implications. He highlighted that the current political landscape is markedly different from that of previous administrations and suggested that it merits a change in dialogue. "It is not the U.S. of Obama, it is not the U.S. of Clinton, it is a different U.S. and therefore our language must change,” Rasool asserted, reiterating his position that he was merely engaging in a political analysis.

Moreover, Rasool advocated for South Africa to continue pressing its case at the International Court of Justice against Israel, claiming that failure to do so would abandon the Palestinian cause. Supporters at the airport jubilantly waved Palestinian flags and chanted "free Palestine," in solidarity with Rasool's perspective on international justice.

As the political tensions linger, Rasool's message was one of resilience and commitment, stating, "We cannot sacrifice the Palestinians ... but we will also not give up with our relationship with the United States. We must fight for it, but we must keep our dignity," highlighting the delicate balance required in international diplomacy amid domestic disputes.

For further details, visit CBS News, South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, Africanews, and Al Jazeera.