US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata, accusing him of being a 'race-baiting politician' who hates America and President Donald Trump. Ties between the two countries have deteriorated since Trump cut US financial aid to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the policy, stating that it aims to address racial disparities in land ownership.