American ambassador once again summoned to foreign minister’s office

The American ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, has again courted controversy by taking to Instagram to deliver personal insults to a Belgian minister. It is one of several incidents and statements from the Trump appointee that have angered local politicians and the public alike this year.

Following in the footsteps of the American president, White yesterday posted an AI-generated image showing federal health minister Frank Vandenbroucke’s face on a cigar and on a framed certificate that reads: “Schaadt iedere vorm van levensvreugde” – Destroys every form of fun. At the top of the image are the words: “Who’s the biggest LOSER in Belgium?”

The post is a reaction to the federal government’s plans to introduce a label on alcohol products that states that alcohol is harmful to one’s health. This follows changes in tobacco packaging laws spearheaded by Vandenbroucke earlier this year.

Last spring, White angered Belgian politicians, including Vandebroucke, by publicly criticising the conviction of two rabbis who conducted circumcisions outside of a medical facility, which is illegal in Belgium. One of the men convicted was an American citizen.

White called the ruling “wrong” and said that it “would not be tolerated”. He used the term “anti-Semitic” with regards to the ruling, siding with Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Not long before that, the US put a travel ban on Vooruit chair Conner Rousseau in response to Rousseau’s statements about Trump’s Nazi tendencies. White called on the Belgian government to officially condemn Rousseau, which it did not do. Eventually the travel ban was lifted.