\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
But it catapulted him onto the front pages in Belgium, a country of 12 million where the new ambassador has already become something of a household name.<\/p>\n
“That’s a little weird for me,” he admitted.<\/p>\n
– ‘We love America!’ –<\/p>\n
White likewise plays down the impact of forays into local politics by fellow US ambassadors that have ruffled feathers in France, Poland and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
“This whole thing about we don’t love Europe, we were leaving NATO — it’s all baloney,” he said. “President Trump loves Belgium so much, and Europe too.”<\/p>\n
He sees claims of anti-American sentiment in Europe as greatly exaggerated — and has an anecdote to prove it.<\/p>\n
“We were on a boat going through Ghent last Saturday, and we’re going under the bridge, and these people are saying, ‘Ambassador White from America! We love America,'” he recalled — waving his arms to recreate the scene.<\/p>\n
The US diplomat, whose residence is adorned with photos of his husband and of Trump and his wife Melania — “Isn’t she gorgeous?” — speaks of having close ties with the Belgian government.<\/p>\n
He says he speaks regularly with his “friends” the ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs — and even claims to have won the good graces of the prime minister’s cat.<\/p>\n
According to White, Prime Minister Bart De Wever is tapped to give a speech at a US-style bash being staged in Brussels for the 250th anniversary of US independence — with fireworks, an American pop star and a fighter jet flyby.<\/p>\n
It stands to be the “largest, biggest, best, most amazing, extraordinary, phenomenal, fantastic event outside of the president’s events in Washington,” he promised.<\/p>\n
Be it throwing a stars-and-stripes party or wading into local politics, White’s approach is unapologetically large and loud — with an energy lifted straight from Trump’s playbook.<\/p>\n
As European capitals voice growing frustration with the US leader — and after Hungarian voters ousted Viktor Orban despite vocal backing from Vice President JD Vance — does he see any reason to rethink his approach?<\/p>\n
“No not at all,” said White. “Not at all.”<\/p>\n
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