Ebrahim Rasool Lacked 'basic, Low-level Respect' For Trump, Us Says

Bruce said the expulsion was not about criticism of Trump . This was the equation of the president and the country with white supremacy. It was an allegation that casts such an awful light on the nature of the country, on individuals, she explained.

She added that Rasools remarks were unacceptable to the US, not just to the President, but to every American.

They were pretty much obscene when it came to the nature of what was - of what was alleged. And so that is, I think, at the very least what we should expect, is a standard of some respect - basic, low-level respect - if you're in a position that is going to help facilitate any kind of diplomatic relationship with another country, Bruce said.

This particular individual certainly didn't meet that standard, and it is a message to people of what America expects, what the President expects, what the Secretary of State expects, what this whole administration expects when it comes to treatment of the nation itself, and as a result, of the people in this country. And so that's why it was done.

The Department has given Rasool until Friday, 21 March to leave Washington. It officially stopped recognising him as a diplomat on Monday, at which point he lost his diplomatic privileges and immunities.

Bruce also repeated the Trump administrations accusation that South Africa is acting against US interests, citing its alleged close ties to Iran and Russia and aggressive stance against Israel. She also referenced the unjust land expropriation law.

So, this isn't one just of demeanour or decorum. This is a matter of a nation that is taking steps that are not in the interests, the best interests of providing a safe, secure, more prosperous America, let alone the world, when it comes to the decisions they're making, the spokesperson said.