Trump falsely accused the South African government of a rights violation against white Afrikaner farmers by seizing their land through a new expropriation law. No land has been seized and the South African government has pushed back, saying U.S. criticism is driven by misinformation.

By Humeyra Pamuk and Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo WASHINGTON/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The United States has expelled South Africa's ambassador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, calling the envoy a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and President Donald Trump.

The US is expelling South Africa's ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying he is "no longer welcome in our great country". In a post on X, Rubio accused Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool of hating America and President Donald Trump and described him as a "race-baiting politician".

One of the president's closest allies, South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, has accused Mr Ramaphosa's government of having "openly racist ownership laws".Most farmland in South Africa is still owned by white people three decades after the end of apartheid and the government is under pressure to implement reforms.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had lashed out on social media over comments critical of President Trump that the ambassador had made to a think tank in Johannesburg.