U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the United States will impose visa restrictions on South African officials accused of discriminating against the white minority in South Africa, citing the South African government's failure to adequately address U.S. concerns about racial inequality. Rubio stated that these restrictions would target individuals who promote "racially-based discrimination, incite violence, or expropriate land without compensation in South Africa." The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria warned that these visa restrictions are merely "the first step in a series of escalating measures." U.S.-South African relations have continued to deteriorate since President Donald Trump returned to the White House early last year, with the U.S. having previously cut aid and expelled the South African ambassador.