This post is also available in: Português Français Українська
Pete Hoekstra, the anti-gay U.S. Ambassador to Holland installed by Donald Trump, recently humiliated himself on national television in that country when he was caught in two back-to-back lies about his previous statements. One lie denied a recorded Islamophobic statement he made in 2015, and his second lie denied an on-camera statement he made during the TV interview itself. We’d be surprised about these Pete Hoekstra lies if he weren’t already an empty husk of a man-clown.
Pete Hoekstra lies on camera … twice
In an interview for the news program Nieuwsuur, Dutch journalist Wouter Zwart asks Hoekstra about a statement he made declaring the existence of “no-go zones” in the Netherlands where Muslims set cars and politicians on fire.
“I didn’t say that,” Hoekstra replies. “That is actually an incorrect statement. Yeah, we would call it ‘fake news.’ I never said that.”
When Zwart disagrees with Hoekstra, Hoekstra replies, “No, it’s not what I said.”
Zwart then shows Hoekstra a clip of himself in a 2015 meeting clearly saying, “The Islamic movement has now gotten to a point where they have put Europe into chaos. Chaos in the Netherlands, there are cars being burnt, there are politicians that are being burnt. And yes, there are no-go zones in the Netherlands.”
When the interview cuts back to Hoekstra and Zwart, Zwart says, “You called it fake news, obviously…” and Hoekstra replies, “I didn’t call that fake news. I didn’t use the words today.”
Zwart looks towards the camera, and says, “No?” and quickly laughs in disbelief before continuing.
Just perfect.
Dutch journalist to new US Ambassador: you said there were 'no go zones' in Netherlands, where are they?
Ambassador: That's fake news, I didn't say that
Journalist: We can show you that clip now.
Ambassador: Err ?? pic.twitter.com/8ohIOzmYAc— Sunny Hundal (@sunny_hundal) December 22, 2017
Hoekstra was born in the Netherlands, but when he was very young, his family immigrated to Michigan. He has since issued a half-assed Islamophobic “apology” in which he writes that he has been “passionate about confronting the global threat of terrorism” and saying that he regrets “the exchange” during the interview — not his repeated lying, but the exchange.
Please see my comments regarding recent interview. Thank you. Pete pic.twitter.com/gxQOcZ8Duk
— Pete Hoekstra (@petehoekstra) December 23, 2017
Hoekstra has also been passionate about denying LGBTQ people basic rights. During his time as a Michigan State Representative, he co-sponsored anti-equality measures at least nine times and received awards for voting according to the wishes of the Family Research Council, a certified anti-LGBTQ hate group.
Dutch newspapers criticized Hoekstra as a bad choice for their equality-minded country at the time of his appointment to the ambassadorship by Trump.
