Trump’s Pants-on-Fire Ambassador Scorched by Dutch Reporters: ‘This Is the Netherlands, You Have to Answer Questions’

‘This Is Not How It Works’ Reporter Angrily Explains

Pete Hoekstra was once a powerful anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-Islam, religious right Tea Party Republican Congressman. Today, he’s an international joke, and an embarrassment to the United States. Hoekstra served the people of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011. He ran for the Senate but lost to Debbie Stabenow. Recently, President Trump appointed him the Ambassador to the Netherlands.

You may have seen the astonishingly embarrassing video last month of Hoekstra being interviewed by a Dutch reporter in Washington D.C. Hoekstra apparently presumed it would be an easy interview, but he was dead wrong. 

As it turns out, reporters from the Netherlands actually ask tough questions, and expect real answers.

The reporter asked Hoekstra to explain why he had claimed in 2015 that there are “no-go zones” in the Netherlands, and why he had claimed that cars and politicians are being set on fire there, by Islamic extremists. 

“That is actually an incorrect statement,” Hoekstra lied, “yeah – we would call it fake news,” he added, literally shrugging off the reporter’s question. “I never said that – no, it’s not what I said.”

The reporter, a bit surprised, then showed Hoekstra video of him making those exact remarks.

After watching the video, the reporter challenged Hoekstra again.

“You called it fake news –” he charged.

“I didn’t call that fake news, I didn’t use the words today,” Hoekstra lied.

Dumbfounded, the reporter turned to his producer, then let it slide.

Hoekstra, realizing that newspapers across what was about to become his new home country were furiously denouncing him even before he had arrived, issued a non-apology apology.

Fast forward to today.

At a press event launching his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, reporters again asked Hoekstra about his 2015 remarks.

“Are politicians being burned in the Netherlands? Is that something you believe?” they asked, as Raw Story reports, after being asked if he would take back his claim.

Thinking he could get away without answering, Ambassador Hoekstra replied: “I’m not revisiting the issue.”

Guess again.

“Why don’t you answer the question?” one reporter demanded. 

They soon all chimed in.

“This is the Netherlands, you have to answer questions,” another reporter blasted.

“This is not how it works,” yet another reporter angrily explained, as Ambassador Hoekstra looked stunned that he was being held accountable.

“He’s answering the questions,” Hoekstra’s press secretary rudely told reporters.

“No he didn’t. He didn’t answer mine,” still another reporter complained.

“He didn’t answer his question,” a different reporter, off-camera, can be heard saying. “He didn’t answer his question,” she again said, as Hoekstra literally stepped back.

“If we don’t have any further questions,” Hoekstra’s press secretary says.

“No, we do!” a reporter complains.

Hoekstra just looks on, stunned.

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