Exclusive Interview | Lotte Stoops: "We Can Celebrate Friendship Without Giving Legitimacy to This Administration."

Brussels Crow | Interview 27.06.2026 | By Kenan Erer

As political debate continues over the U.S. Embassy's planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence at Brussels' Cinquantenaire Park, Lotte Stoops (Ecolo-Groen) argues that the controversy is no longer simply about logistics or environmental concerns. In this exclusive interview with Brussels Crow, Stoops explains why she believes the central question has become whether Brussels should offer an exceptional public platform to the current U.S. administration.

Interview | Lotte Stoops (Ecolo-Groen)

1. Why do you oppose the planned celebration at Cinquantenaire Park?

Thank you for allowing me to comment alongside the remarks already shared by my Ecolo-Groen colleagues.

There is — understandably — strong opposition to this event among Brussels residents. Beyond questions of transparency, public costs and the impact on mobility, nature and wildlife, one concern keeps returning: Do we really want to offer such an exceptional platform to the current U.S. administration?

Celebrating 250 years of the United States and the longstanding friendship between Belgium, Europe and the United States is, of course, entirely legitimate.

However, dedicating such a highly symbolic part of Brussels' public space, in the heart of the European capital, to an event of unprecedented scale is something very different.

This is particularly questionable at a time when our parks are more important than ever — both for residents seeking relief during the current heatwave and for the wildlife that depends on these green spaces.

We are speaking about an administration that has celebrated disrespect, shown remarkable hostility toward its traditional allies, launched what I consider an illegal war since 28 February this year, caused immeasurable damage through climate scepticism, and actively undermined the international institutions and rules-based order that have helped preserve peace, stability and cooperation for decades.

Will the current administration and Ambassador Bill White use this occasion to spread messages of friendship, or messages of division? Considering Ambassador White's record of public engagement in Belgium, we fear it will be the latter.

We can celebrate the friendship between peoples without giving exceptional visibility and legitimacy to an administration whose actions and rhetoric run counter to the values Brussels and Europe seek to uphold.