Brent Bozell, a conservative media critic appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador to South Africa, has arrived in Pretoria, the U.S. embassy confirmed Tuesday. Bozell, 70, must present his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa before officially assuming his post.
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have been strained over a range of issues, including South Africa’s 2023 genocide case against Israel, Trump’s claims that white Afrikaners face persecution, and broader geopolitical differences. Bozell, founder of the conservative Media Research Center, is a strong defender of Israel and has pledged to press Pretoria on its foreign policy alignment with Russia, China, and Iran.
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Bozell also said he would advocate for Trump’s offer of refugee status to the white Afrikaans minority. The U.S. administration claims Afrikaners face discrimination under South Africa’s post-apartheid government—a position Pretoria strongly rejects.
Economic tensions have added to the diplomatic strain. Washington imposed 30% tariffs on South African exports in August, affecting agriculture, automotive, and textile sectors. While South Africa continues negotiations with the U.S., it has also signed a duty-free trade agreement with China, its largest trade partner.
Bozell said, “It is essential to actively engage on areas of disagreement while seeking opportunities to foster mutual benefit.” The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, with over 500 U.S. businesses and 30,000 American citizens based in the country.
