Brussels – A diplomatic dispute between the United States and Belgium escalated Wednesday after U.S. Ambassador Bill White requested the Belgian government formally condemn Conner Rousseau, the chairman of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, over comments comparing U.S. President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.
The request, delivered in a letter to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on Tuesday and reported by De Morgen, marks a further deterioration in relations following White’s earlier criticism of a Belgian judicial investigation and accusations of antisemitism. White alleges Rousseau’s statements are “completely unreasonable and unacceptable,” and has described them as defamatory.
Rousseau’s comments, made in an Instagram video, referenced the rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s and drew parallels to the current political climate in the United States under President Trump. “80 years ago Hitler, the extreme right and the Nazis turned Europe into a hell,” Rousseau stated in the video. “But what do we see today in America? The far-right Trump with his private army ICE, detaining innocent children and executing nurses.”
The Belgian government, though, has indicated it will not comply with White’s demand for a condemnation. The U.S. Ambassador was already summoned to the Foreign Ministry earlier this week to address his public criticism of a Belgian investigation into Jewish circumcisers, which White characterized as “ABSOLUTELY an issue of antisemitism” on social media. During that meeting with Theodora Gentzis, Belgium’s highest diplomatic official, White was reportedly informed of the boundaries of diplomatic conduct.
Despite the reprimand, White has continued to press his concerns. He has called for legislative changes to protect Jewish ritual circumcisers from prosecution, a move critics have labeled as interference in Belgium’s internal affairs.
The dispute has similarly taken on an internal political dimension within Belgium. Michael Freilich, a member of the N-VA (New Flemish Alliance) party, has acknowledged raising the case of the circumcisers during a parliamentary mission in Washington, including discussions with a Trump advisor. CD&. V Chairman Sammy Mahdi criticized Freilich’s actions as a form of lobbying, questioning whether Belgian lawmakers should seek external support for domestic legislative goals. The N-VA has denied any connection between Freilich’s initiative and the current diplomatic crisis.
According to reports, White’s letter to Prevot goes beyond a request for condemnation, suggesting potential “diplomatic sanctions” if Rousseau’s statements are not addressed. The U.S. Ambassador maintains he is compelled to speak out on matters of principle, even if it means challenging diplomatic norms.
