Remarks by South Africa's ambassador to the United States about President Donald Trump were "unacceptable," a State Department spokesperson told reporters on Monday after Washington last week made the decision to expel the envoy.

The State Department says South Africa’s ambassador to the United States has until Friday to leave the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had lashed out on social media over comments critical of President Trump that the ambassador had made to a think tank in Johannesburg.