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.

Ties between the United States and South Africa have deteriorated since Trump cut U.S. financial aid to the country, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally Israel.

"South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio posted on social media platform X. "We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA."

Rubio reposted an article from right-wing website Breitbart that quoted the envoy, Ebrahim Rasool, as saying on Friday that Trump was leading a white "supremacist" movement.

South Africa's presidency on Saturday "noted the regrettable expulsion" of Rasool, saying in a statement it remained committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States.

Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, posted on X that the government "will engage through the diplomatic channel."

Rasool has failed to secure routine meetings with State Department officials and key Republican figures since Trump, a Republican, took office in January, the news website Semafor reported this week.

It cited a South African diplomat as saying Rasool's pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel seemed to be the reason for him being shut out.

The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.