Belgium Summons US Ambassador Again Over Mockery of Health Minister
Belgium's foreign minister has summoned US Ambassador Bill White after he posted a mocking image of the country's health minister on Instagram. It is the second such incident this year.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has demanded explanations from US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White following an Instagram post mocking Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. This marks the second time this year the diplomat has been summoned over his conduct.
White, who represents US President Donald Trump, shared an AI-generated image depicting a cigar box featuring Vandenbroucke's likeness alongside a question asking who is Belgium's biggest loser. The box's lid carried a mocking message referencing the minister's push to revise health warning labels used in alcohol advertising.
Prévot stated that such offensive language directed at a government member is unacceptable and confirmed he had summoned the ambassador to explain himself. Belgium's Health Ministry declined to comment on the matter.
Dispute Over Alcohol Warning Labels
The post coincides with protests by Belgium's brewers' union against a bill proposed by Vandenbroucke that would change alcohol warning labels from cautioning against excessive consumption to a broader warning that alcohol consumption itself is harmful.
White was previously summoned to the Foreign Ministry in February, after accusing Brussels of antisemitism over an investigation into three Jewish mohels in Antwerp suspected of performing circumcisions without proper medical qualifications. At the time, he pressured Vandenbroucke to intervene in the case.
Conner Rousseau, leader of Vandenbroucke's Vooruit party, publicly responded to White's post, saying the ambassador understands nothing about healthcare and is simply doing what Trump wants.
