Thousands protested Trump visit in Belgium

Protesters gathered in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday to protest President Trump’s arrival in the city. 

News reports and social media posts showed thousands of demonstrators carrying signs and chanting in a rebuke of Trump, who once called the city a “hellhole” in the wake of terrorist plots. 

Tens of thousands in Brussels protesting trump’s visit:

“Hey hey, ho ho, donald trump has got to go!”

Beautiful.pic.twitter.com/fKl6BWYNME

— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) May 24, 2017

I’m in Brussels for @BuzzFeedNews . Protesters are gathering as Trump arrives in the city for a NATO summit. pic.twitter.com/jUjPJjAJAX

— Rachael Krishna (@RachaelKrishna) May 24, 2017

Saw some interesting signs at the #TrumpNotWelcome protest in Brussels today! pic.twitter.com/M6GOUpFAqz

— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) May 24, 2017

only today Brussels will be a hellhole #TrumpNotWelcome pic.twitter.com/7v8mSx10sm

— Manon Uyttendaele (@Manon_UY) May 24, 2017

Capital police in Brussels reported a crowd of 9,000 protesters.

{mosads}Brussels marks the fourth stop of Trump’s first overseas trip as president. There, he is set to attend a NATO summit before leaving for Sicily to participate in the Group of Seven Summit. 

Brussels serves as the headquarters for both NATO and the European Union — two organizations that Trump often assailed on the campaign trail. Since taking office, Trump appears to have reversed course on his opposition to NATO, saying last month that the alliance is no longer “obsolete.”

At the NATO meeting on Thursday, Trump is expected to call on member countries to meet their defense spending obligations under the treaty organization. The president has frequently criticized NATO members for relying too heavily on U.S. defense.