Foreign minister and US ambassador move to repair relations after diplomatic dispute
The US ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, has indicated that he will drop the proposed US travel ban against Conner Rousseau, chairman of Vooruit. The announcement followed a meeting in Brussels with foreign minister Maxime Prévot, who described their talks as a “frank and direct exchange”.
The diplomatic row commenced last week after White publicly criticised a judicial investigation into circumcision practices in the Jewish community in Antwerp and accused the Belgian government of antisemitism. He subsequently launched strong attacks on health minister Frank Vandenbroucke and Rousseau.
Rousseau had received a message via Instagram stating that he would no longer be allowed to enter the United States because he refused to apologise for a social media video in which he compared US president Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.
"Mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs"
Prévot summoned White to his office on Tuesday morning. According to a press release issued afterwards, the minister reminded him “that the role of ambassador is governed by codes and customs, including mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs.” He also stated “that the judiciary in Belgium is independent and impartial, and that its actions therefore cannot tolerate any political or diplomatic interference.”
Prévot further “reiterated his disapproval of the remarks personally directed at Belgian politicians.” White reportedly acknowledged “that aggressive ad personam attacks were inappropriate” and indicated that he “will drop the idea of travel restrictions against Mr Rousseau.”
At the same time, Prévot offered a measured rebuke to Rousseau, stating: “The current American administration is not comparable to the Nazi regime. When a comparison is made with Nazism, productive debate ceases to exist,” he says.
"We are back on track"
Speaking to the press after the hour-long meeting, White stated, “We had a great conversation; we are moving things forward,” he said. “I expressed my appreciation for him (Prévot, ed.) about his words about antisemitism in any form.”
White described Prévot as “a great public servant, serving his country very proudly” and added: “We're good friends and we're working together on some upcoming things” He said he hoped to lay a wreath with Prévot on Memorial Day in honour of American soldiers who died in Belgium. “Hopefully, we can return to the core values of friendship between America and the Kingdom of Belgium.”
Addressing the controversy directly, White said: “We also discussed that it is inappropriate for anyone to be comparing the president of the United States or the government of the American people to someone who killed eight million Jews.” Asked whether he had been reprimanded, he declined to comment, replying only: “We had a very good meeting, I want to thank him very much for the meeting, and we are back on track.”
Prévot did not speak to the press after the meeting and is expected to brief the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on the matter.
US ambassador to Belgium Bill White talks to the press after a meeting at the offices of the Foreign Affairs department of the Federal Government in Brussels, Tuesday 24 February 2026. © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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