Country Recalls Ambassador To US Over ‘Unacceptable’ Backlash To Alcohol Warnings

The Belgian government summoned U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White for a “call to order” for the second time in less than a year, this time over an X post featuring an AI-generated image criticizing proposed alcohol-label warnings.

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White was summoned by Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, according to an official government press release, Belga reported. The spat stems from a social media post by White, in which the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium posted an AI-generated image of the Belgian Health Minister, Frank Vandenbroucke, pictured on a cigar box that read “Who’s the biggest LOSER in Belgium?”, Politico reported.

Ambassador White took aim at Vandenbroucke’s push for changes to alcohol-labeling rules with the box featuring a warning line that read “Damages every form of joy in life.”

“It is unacceptable for an ambassador accredited in Belgium to turn against a member of our government in this manner,” said Prévot in a statement, according to Belga. “As foreign minister, I will be summoning the American ambassador in the coming days.”

White’s criticism of Vandenbroucke stems from the nation’s push for beer and spirits producers to post the warning “alcohol damages your health” on bottles, Belga noted. (RELATED: Belgium Uses Trump Dance To Savagely Mock US Men’s Soccer In Thrashing 4-1 Defeat)

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A trade group representing Belgian brewers is gathering to picket the new rule. This week, they sent a letter expressing opposition to the proposed requirement, according to a Belga report.

Earlier this year, Ambassador White faced a summons after he accused Belgian authorities of antisemitism because of an investigation that looked into a group of Jewish mohels in the city of Antwerp who were accused of performing illegal circumcisions, Politico reported. (RELATED: ‘That Is Nonsense’: Belgian Prime Minister Snaps Back After Trump Ambassador Accuses Belgium Of Antisemitism)

White called the probe “ridiculous” and urged Vandenbroucke to intervene and halt the investigation, per the outlet.

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