At the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the true internal threat facing Europe.
Vice President Vance delivered a forceful address at Friday’s Munich Security Conference. He criticized European leaders for their fear of their own electorates and their failure to uphold democratic principles, while simultaneously silencing dissenting voices under the guise of combating “disinformation.”
Following Vance’s speech, journalists briefed President Trump at a White House press conference, noting the speech’s negative reception in Europe and inquiring about the President’s view on the differing worldviews between EU elites and the US.
Trump responded positively, stating, “I thought his speech was very well received. I’ve heard very good remarks. I’m glad he made it – a very good speech, actually, a very brilliant speech. And Europe has to be careful.”
“I heard his speech and he talked about freedom of speech and I think it’s true. In Europe they’re losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech,” Trump added.
Vance argued that Europe’s greatest threat stems from internal issues rather than external forces, expressing concern over the continent’s abandonment of its core values.
“The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor,” he stated, adding, “what I worry about is the threat from within.”
Vance condemned European leaders for fearing their own citizens and neglecting democratic values, citing the recent invalidation of Romania’s presidential election as an example.
If you’re governing out of fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.
The Vice President also accused EU elites of ignoring the growing disconnect between their perspectives and those of ordinary citizens, and of suppressing opposing views under the guise of fighting “disinformation or misinformation.”
“I will admit that sometimes the loudest voices for censorship have come not from within Europe, but from within my own country, where the prior administration threatened and bullied social media companies to censor so-called misinformation,” he observed. “Now, to many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old, entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, who simply don’t like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion or, God forbid, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election.”
“In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. And under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer [them] in the public square,” Vance concluded.
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