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Bill White summoned by Maxime Prévot after attack on Frank Vandenbroucke: “A very frank discussion” Image: EMILE WINDAL
🇧🇪 Belgium /Conflict & Security

Bill White summoned by Maxime Prévot after attack on Frank Vandenbroucke: “A very frank discussion”

From La Libre Belgique · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot summoned US Ambassador Bill White after White posted an AI-generated image mocking Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke.
  • White described their hour-and-a-half meeting as a “very frank discussion” about social media and the publication of messages.
  • The ambassador did not say whether he apologized, but called the outcome positive and said he would continue expressing his opinions online.

US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White met Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot for an hour and a half after posting an insulting social-media message about Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke.

I am very happy to see my friend Maxime Prévot. He is doing a terrific job.

— Bill WhiteThe US ambassador spoke before meeting the Belgian foreign minister.

White had reacted on Instagram to a requirement that alcohol advertisements carry the health warning “Alcohol harms health.” He posted an AI-generated image of Vandenbroucke with the caption “Harms every form of joie de vivre.” Above the image, he wrote: “Who is Belgium’s biggest loser?”

Prévot announced on Friday that he would summon the ambassador. White said before the meeting that he was pleased to see his “friend” Prévot, but added that he was unhappy to discuss something he had published on his personal social-media accounts.

What I am not really happy about is having to talk about something I posted on my personal social media.

— Bill WhiteWhite objected to having to discuss his Instagram post.

Afterward, White described the meeting as “a very frank discussion,” using the English word “frank” with a nod to Vandenbroucke’s first name. He said they discussed social media and the publication of messages. “I respect what the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said. Of course, I will continue to publish my opinions.”

A very frank discussion

— Bill WhiteHe used the phrase to describe the meeting with Prévot.

White did not say whether he had apologized. He said he and Prévot understood each other, maintained very good relations and had reached a positive outcome. He called the meeting extremely productive.

I respect what the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said. Of course, I will continue to publish my opinions.

— Bill WhiteWhite addressed the discussion over the limits of social-media expression by foreign representatives.
About this summary

Originally published by La Libre Belgique in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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