US ambassador says Vooruit leader is 'banned from travel to the US' amid diplomatic row
US ambassador Bill White has declared that Conner Rousseau, leader of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, is no longer allowed to travel to the United States. White made the statement on Friday in response to a video posted on Instagram by NWS.NWS.NWS, VRT's youth news channel. The statement is part of a broader diplomatic row that has been going on for almost a week.
"Disgusting. Conner Rousseau, you are officially banned from travel to the USA #period," White wrote in capital letters under a video about the diplomatic row. The ambassador had previously threatened diplomatic sanctions against him because of a video about the US immigration service ICE that he posted online, in which he compared president Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.
In a response on Instagram, Rousseau called American actions a dangerous precedent. “Anyone who criticises Trump is no longer allowed to enter the US," he said. "Freedom of speech is important. Our prosperity and economy are important. I will continue to stand up for that.”
Earlier, White called on the Belgian government in a letter to reprimand Rousseau after the Instagram video. “Totally unreasonable and unacceptable,” White said. “The US calls on the Belgian government to immediately condemn Mr. Rousseau's statements.”
The diplomatic row began on Monday when White criticised a judicial investigation into religious circumcisions in Antwerp. According to White, that investigation is antisemitic. He also called Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke of Vooruit “very rude”.
#FlandersNewsService | US ambassador to Belgium Bill White © BELGA PHOTO MARIUS BURGELMAN
Related news
