South Africa summons new U.S. ambassador over criticism as rift deepens

The new U.S. ambassador to South Africa has been summoned to explain his criticism of foreign policy that the Trump administration describes as anti-American.

The new U.S. ambassador to South Africa has been summoned to explain his criticism, the country's foreign minister said Wednesday, as a diplomatic rift continues over foreign policy that the Trump administration describes as anti-American and domestic policies it calls anti-white.

Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III was summoned after speaking at a meeting of business leaders on Tuesday, where he challenged the South African government over its diplomatic ties with Iran and its affirmative action laws that advance opportunities for Black people ahead of other races.

The rift has grown between the former allies since President Donald Trump returned to office. Ties have plunged to their lowest point since the end of apartheid, or white minority rule, in 1994. Trump has been critical of South Africa’s Black-led government.

Bozell, a conservative activist appointed by Trump, took up his role in Pretoria last month.

In his first detailed public comments on U.S.-South Africa ties since arriving, Bozell said South Africa should change some of its affirmative action laws that were designed to redress the inequalities of South Africa's decades of racial segregation under apartheid. He compared the laws to race laws that oppressed Black people during apartheid.