Trump’s Netherlands ambassador struggles to answer for past remarks at grilling by Dutch journalists

Louis Nelson

U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra struggled Wednesday, in his first news conference with Dutch journalists, to explain previous remarks he had made about the Netherlands and the supposed danger brought there by the “Islamic movement.”  According to a report from The Washington Post, reporters repeatedly asked Hoekstra to offer proof of his claim that politicians and cars have been burned and that there are “no-go zones” in the Netherlands. Hoekstra, who was born in the Netherlands and represented Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District for 18 years, was unable or unwilling to offer such proof Wednesday, promising only that he would be “revisiting the issue.” Pressed further by Dutch reporters, the U.S. ambassador simply refused to answer. At one point, a reporter referenced a quote from John Adams, the first U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, who wished that only “honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

“If you’re truly an honest and wise man, could you please take back the remark about burned politicians or name the politician that was burned in the Netherlands?” the reporter asked. A silence followed but was broken when Hoekstra replied “thank you.”

Wednesday’s news conference in The Hague was not Hoekstra’s first awkward exchange with a Dutch reporter. Asked last month about his “no-go zones” remark, Hoekstra denied having ever made it, calling it “fake news.” Then, presented with video of himself making the remarks, Hoekstra denied having used the term “fake news,” even though he had just moments earlier.

“We were all astonished that he didn’t want to take back the comment. It was simply untrue, so why not take it back?” Roel Geeraedts, the political reporter who asked about the John Adams quote, told the Post. “It was awkward, to be honest.”