“I’m not at all happy to be here discussing something I reposted on my personal account,” said US Ambassador Bill White on his arrival at the foreign ministry this morning after being summoned to give an account of his actions by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist). The ambassador was called in to answer for a dig at Belgian Health and Social Affairs Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist Vooruit).
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Foreign Minister Prévot summons US Ambassador Bill White following his attack on Minister Vandenbroucke
Colin Clapson
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On social media website Instagram, White had posted an AI-generated image of Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke with the caption: “Destroys any joy in life”. Above it, he wrote: “Who’s the biggest loser in Belgium?”. He was referring to the debate over health warnings on alcohol.
On arriving at the foreign ministry, White had words of praise for the foreign minister. “I’m very happy to see my friend Maxime Prévot. He’s doing a fantastic job,” he began.
The post references the Flemish expression “Hij is de sigaar”, literally, “He’s the cigar”, meaning “He’s screwed”.
White announces US investment in Belgium
“We will be discussing two very important matters today. Firstly, the new $1 billion embassy here in Brussels, as well as the $10 billion in support for new nuclear sites and a $45 billion LNG (liquified natural gas) deal.”
White is not happy that he is actually here with Prévot to answer for his outburst on Insta. “I am not at all pleased to be here discussing something I reposted on my personal account.”
Second time in hot water
This is already the second time White has been called in by the Foreign Minister. Earlier this year, Prévot summoned White after the ambassador had intervened in a discussion about the prosecution of Jewish circumcisers.
“The fact that he’s been called to account again is unusual. It also highlights the shamelessness of the MAGA movement, of which Bill White is a leading figure,” international relations expert Sven Biscop told VRT. “White knows he can get away with a lot and won’t simply be shown the door.”
Biscop does not expect the ambassador to change his style. Nevertheless, he does not expect the ambassador to be sacked any time soon. “We know what enormous economic and security interests are at stake.”
“But there are other ways to make our displeasure clear. For instance, he could be barred from receiving further invitations from the government and thus be ‘sidelined’.”