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Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken Warns Trump To ‘Leave Queen Meloni Alone’
thegatewaypundit.com ^ | Jul. 7, 2026 | Paul Serran

Posted on 07/07/2026 9:45:07 AM PDT by V_TWIN

Francken just had a bad idea and acted on it.

In today’s NATO summit in Turkey, Belgium is one of the lowest-investing countries in the alliance – and now, its Defense Minister has gone on a limb against Donald J. Trump because of his social media spat with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken is aware that Europe needs the U.S. to defend the continent, and he thinks the alliance leaders should be careful not to alienate Trump.

While the Trump-Meloni spat escalated on Sunday with the US President posting a photo of Meloni, joking that he ‘would need a restraining order’ against the Italian leader, all other alliance leaders where wise enough not to get into the fray.

But somehow, the Belgian minister felt it was wise to meddle.

“’I love her, she’s conservative, she is totally on the same line … and then you’re going to have a fight on what? On a picture!’ said Francken.”

It’s odd that this statement comes on the heels of his admission that the EU is ‘not close to being ready to defend itself without continued U.S. help’.

Francken thinks it’ll take Europe ‘five to 10 years’ to build up the capabilities provided by the US.

(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: defense; eu; giorgiameloni; meloni; nato
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Just because you beat us in your little Nancy game doesn't make you a tough guy dipshit.

'

1 posted on 07/07/2026 9:45:07 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: V_TWIN
Europe will never be fully prepared to defend itself unless we stop all together. Then see their social programs run out of Mooney because they have been welfare recipients of US military funding and defense support.
2 posted on 07/07/2026 9:51:13 AM PDT by gunnut
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To: V_TWIN

3 posted on 07/07/2026 9:51:39 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: V_TWIN

Maybe he will walk this back, as they say. Yeah, I think he’ll waffle.


4 posted on 07/07/2026 9:52:08 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Enoch Powell warned us about Rivers of Blood. Well, I sure hope they're coming. It's the only fix.)
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To: V_TWIN

Heh, of the Trumpster has the audacity to visit Belgium, they’ll threaten him with their sole military aircraft - a Cessna 172 with airborne firecrackers.


5 posted on 07/07/2026 9:52:39 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: V_TWIN
Trump is most certainly not a diplomat. She is a remarkable conservative and he needs to back off of her, stop being crude and show some respect.

Surely he could have our State and Defense officials work with their counterparts in the Italian government on the main issue—being able to launch ships and missiles from Italian bases because they are part of NATO. Then they can approach Meloni and leak to their own media to convince her with facts and figures instead of emotions.

PS: The Pope isn't helping. (eye roll)

6 posted on 07/07/2026 9:53:54 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens. --DJT)
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To: V_TWIN

Meloni Baloni is a globalist fraud.


7 posted on 07/07/2026 9:56:33 AM PDT by montag813
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To: V_TWIN

Doesn’t Belgium hate her?


8 posted on 07/07/2026 9:57:44 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: V_TWIN

Meloni should be capable enough to handle a spat with Pres. Trump, if not then she should not be capable of governing Italy. Theo should keep his flap trap closed and we should dump NATO and the pitiful U.N. Who does this pissant think he is?


9 posted on 07/07/2026 10:02:43 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan (have to )
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To: nickcarraway

TDS makes strange bedfellows


10 posted on 07/07/2026 10:03:28 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave!)
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To: V_TWIN

Many of the Belgians at Malmedy were on the side of the krauts.


11 posted on 07/07/2026 10:08:11 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: V_TWIN
Francken thinks it’ll take Europe ‘five to 10 years’ to build up the capabilities provided by the US.

Unbelievable. He is essentially saying Europe is totally incapable of defending itself. Period.

12 posted on 07/07/2026 10:13:45 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Ok In anyq war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: V_TWIN

Francken sounds like a simp.


13 posted on 07/07/2026 10:20:36 AM PDT by ArcadeQuarters (You can't remove RINOs by voting for them!)
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To: V_TWIN

Speed up bringing the 173rd back to the states, and put them to work rounding up the illegals. Along with the remaining brigades of 2nd ID.


14 posted on 07/07/2026 10:20:55 AM PDT by Salvavida
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To: gunnut

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh
4h
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. President Trump just OBLITERATED NATO, basically calling them freeloaders who barely deserve his presence if it weren’t for Turkey

“ITALY turned us down. GERMANY turned us down. FRANCE turned us down.”

“We WEREN’T TREATED WELL.”

“I was VERY disappointed with NATO. Frankly? If it weren’t held in Turkey...it’s possible I would NOT have attended [NATO]. I felt I had to because [Erdogan] has gone all out.”

“In a way, I was testing people!”

“Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars, they weren’t there for us, we’ve been there for them.”

“We protect European countries...you’d THINK they’d be very willing to do something to help us. And they REALLY WEREN’T.”

https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2074476923095269797?s=20


15 posted on 07/07/2026 10:32:11 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Albion Wilde
Trump is most certainly not a diplomat.

Something is wrong; he is off track, publicly praising Erdowan and ridiculing Meloni.
16 posted on 07/07/2026 10:37:13 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: af_vet_1981
he is off track, publicly praising Erdowan and ridiculing Meloni.

Meloni deserves it. As far as Erdowan, Trump knows who he is dealing with.

17 posted on 07/07/2026 10:38:20 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Albion Wilde

“She is a remarkable conservative and he needs to back off of her, stop being crude and show some respect.”

How so? She campaigned against immigration, and once in office, leaves it alone.

She would not let the United States use Italian airspace or bases for the war in Iran.

Those are facts and figures and not emotion.


18 posted on 07/07/2026 10:40:02 AM PDT by odawg (ave led the same sessions )
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To: Rummyfan

“””He is essentially saying Europe is totally incapable of defending itself. Period.”””

That isn’t what he said at all “Francken thinks it’ll take Europe ‘five to 10 years’ to build up the capabilities provided by the US” is what he said.


19 posted on 07/07/2026 10:41:45 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: 1Old Pro
Meloni deserves it. As far as Erdowan, Trump knows who he is dealing with.

He praises and seeks to arm the dictator who wants to restore the Ottoman Empire and attacks the conservative (for Europe) leader who actually runs in a fair election. Will he allow Turkey to keep the nuclear weapons in Incirlik after selling them F35s so they can threaten Greece and/or Israel ?
20 posted on 07/07/2026 10:45:08 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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