Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Belgium criticised over Holocaust denier links

US president Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, is facing strong criticism from Senate Democrats after he was found to have promoted a convicted Belgian Holocaust denier online, as reported by American publication The Hill.

White, a former museum executive and veterans’ fundraiser, reposted support on social media for Dries Van Langenhove, a far-right Belgian activist convicted of racism and Holocaust denial. White later deleted the posts, saying he had not known about Van Langenhove’s record.

Senator Tim Kaine singled out the nomination as an appalling pick: “I think this is a grievous mistake to approve someone to be an ambassador to Belgium who has tweeted out and platformed, an antisemitic Holocaust-denying Belgium convict criminal.”

Republicans defended White, arguing he regretted the post and highlighting his long record of work with veterans and Jewish organisations. But Democrats pointed to his other social media activity, including spreading conspiracy theories about the 2020 US election and insulting politicians, as evidence of poor judgement.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, controlled by Republicans, voted to advance White’s nomination this week as part of a wider push to confirm dozens of Trump’s foreign policy picks. A final confirmation vote in the full Senate is still pending

^{© ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP}