We analyze Belgian PM Sophie Wilmès’ first three speeches related to the Covid-19 restrictions in March 2020 as well as their press coverage. The rhetorical strategies deployed to foster authority and legitimacy in times of crisis are examined in the context of Belgium’s political culture of pragmatic realism in the face of a divided federal polity. Wilmès constructs a united collective ethos by displaying a shared authority at the federal and decision-making level, expressing empathy with the population, and appealing to solidarity. She avoids pathos and the war metaphor, uses rational arguments, and constructs a complex audience.