President Donald Trump has chosen Leo Brent Bozell III, a notable conservative media critic and pro-Israel advocate, as the U.S. ambassador to South Africa. This appointment comes at a time of increasing diplomatic strain, particularly following South Africa’s legal actions against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The announcement follows the expulsion of South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the U.S. after he made remarks deemed critical of Trump, marking a significant low point in U.S.-South Africa relations.
Bozell, the founder of several conservative media organizations including the Media Research Center, was previously nominated to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media. However, that nomination was withdrawn. His son, Leo Bozell, was involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and subsequently sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
The Trump administration has taken a strong stance against South Africa, misconstruing the government's actions regarding land rights and falsely claiming the persecution of white South Africans. This follows Trump's executive order in February that froze U.S. aid to South Africa, citing "unjust racial discrimination" against white Afrikaners. This move has been met with backlash from the ANC-led government, which characterized Trump's actions as part of a misinformation campaign designed to distort the reality of South Africa.
Overall, the nomination still requires confirmation from the U.S. Senate, and it remains to be seen how it will affect diplomatic relations moving forward.
