Belgium summons U.S. ambassador over insulting post about health minister

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has once again summoned U.S. Ambassador Bill White to Brussels for an unspecified reason, marking the second such summons this year. The incident stems from White's Instagram post mocking Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, which has sparked diplomatic tensions. White's post, which appeared to mock Vandenbroucke's efforts to change alcohol advertising health warnings, prompted Prévot to express his dissatisfaction in a statement to POLITICO.

The foreign ministry confirmed the summons, which was initially reported by Belga news agency. The Belgian health ministry has declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, a trade association representing Belgian brewers is currently lobbying against a proposed law by Vandenbroucke that seeks to alter the health warning on alcohol advertisements.

White had previously been summoned in February over his comments regarding a probe into three Jewish mohels in Antwerp, which the Belgian government deemed as interference in the country's domestic and judicial affairs. Conner Rousseau, the leader of Vandenbroucke's party, accused White of lacking knowledge about healthcare and merely following the directives of U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. embassy in Brussels has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this latest incident.