Opposition parties in South Africa have urged the president not to be “intimidated” by the United States after Washington expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, giving him just 72 hours to leave the country.

Rasool was declared an “unwelcome person” following comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called him a “race-baiting politician who hates America” on Friday.

Tensions between South Africa and the US have worsened since Donald Trump became president.

However, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, told the public broadcaster SABC that “Twitter diplomacy” was not the solution and emphasized the importance of direct, face-to-face dialogue between the two nations.

Other politicians were more direct in their responses.

Julius Malema’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), issued a sharp statement condemning the US, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa “not to allow the country to be bullied by the orange clown in the White House.”

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) Secretary-General, Apa Pooe, also condemned the US’s actions, calling it an assault on South Africa’s sovereignty and an attempt to impose foreign policy on the country.

“South Africa is not a puppet of the US; we have the right to govern ourselves without interference,” he stated.

Trump has been a vocal critic of South Africa’s controversial land reform law, which permits the government to seize land without compensation under certain conditions. Last month, Trump also reduced aid to South Africa, accusing the government of discriminating against the white Afrikaner minority, descendants of Dutch and French settlers. South Africa has denied these accusations.

Rasool, who had previously served as US ambassador from 2010 to 2015 under President Barack Obama, was reappointed in 2024 due to his experience and his extensive connections in Washington.

However, despite his credentials, Rasool has faced difficulties arranging meetings with Trump. An unnamed South African diplomat told Semafor that someone with Rasool’s “pro-Palestine politics” might struggle in the current political climate.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a coalition partner in South Africa’s government of national unity (GNU), has raised concerns over why the African National Congress (ANC) continues to have exclusive control over foreign diplomacy appointments.

“It’s not right that the ANC has free reign over foreign policy and diplomat appointments, especially when they represent only 39% of the vote,” said DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp. He suggested that members of the GNU should be sent to Washington to help ease the growing tensions.