Brent Bozell, Trump’s pick for ambassador, lands in Pretoria as US-South Africa relations face strain over Israel and diplomacy.

JOHANNESBURG: The new US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell (pic), has arrived to take up his post.

His arrival comes at a time of significant strain in bilateral relations following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

“I’m confirming that he’s in country,” a US embassy official told AFP.

Bozell, a 70-year-old conservative media critic, was chosen for the role by President Trump in March.

The announcement came soon after Washington expelled South Africa’s ambassador for being critical of US policy.

Trump said Bozell “brings fearless tenacity, extraordinary experience, and vast knowledge to a nation that desperately needs it”.

The ambassador-designate must still present his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa before officially starting his duties.

Neither the US embassy nor South Africa’s foreign ministry could confirm when this ceremony would occur.

Bozell is the founder of the Media Research Center, a non-profit that aims to expose perceived leftist bias in news media.

A major point of tension is South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Bozell is reported to be a strong defender of Israel, while Pretoria recently expelled Israel’s top diplomat.

The Trump administration also boycotted South Africa’s G20 summit in Johannesburg last year.

It has not invited South Africa to the US-hosted G20 meeting this year.

The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner by country after China.

The previous US ambassador, Reuben Brigety, resigned in November 2024 just before Trump took office.

 The Sun Malaysia