Vice President JD Vance tore into Europe’s abandonment of free speech and authoritarian approach to defending democracy.
Vance spoke at the 2025 Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14, warning the audience that “in Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” Vance used the occasion of the security conference to ask what had happened to the victorious free nations that won the Cold War. He even noted that while the NATO and EU countries gathered to discuss how to defend against national security threats, domestically countries like Germany and the United Kingdom punish people for praying silently near abortion clinics, censor and criminalize speech. Vance challenged the EU to explain what democratic values are being protected by nations that take these actions.
“I've heard a lot about what you need to defend yourselves from, and of course that's important," Vance said. “But what has seemed a little bit less clear to me–and certainly I think to many of the citizens of Europe–is what exactly it is that you're defending yourselves for. What is the positive vision that animates this shared security compact that we all believe is so important?”
Vance added, “I believe deeply that there is no security if you are afraid of the voices, the opinions and the conscience that guide your very own people.”
The vice president cited multiple examples of Europe seemingly forgetting the democratic principles it allegedly holds. He brought up Romania canceling an election because Russia spent money on social media and Scotland preemptively regulating the speech and conduct of people in their own homes if they live near an abortion mill.
Vance even laid into the very conference at which he was speaking, noting that representatives of opposition parties had been banned from the gathering.
The vice president also went after rampant government censorship of social media in the EU under the draconian Digital Services Act (DSA), noting both threats to shut down social media by EU bureaucrats and member states that prosecute speech.
Vance told those in attendance at the Munich Security Conference that the authoritarian behavior of European governments looks appalling to Americans: “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.”
Vance admitted that some of the “loudest voices” against free speech are American and noted how the Biden administration pushed censorship of alleged dis- and misinformation on major tech companies. However, Vance said America would behave very differently in the future: “So I come here today not just with an observation but with an offer. Just as the Biden administration seemed desperate to silence people for speaking their minds, so the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite.
He added, “I hope that we can work together on that. 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 agree or disagree.”
The vice president closed with the words of St. Pope John Paul II: “Do not be afraid.” Vance said, “As Pope John Paul II in my view one of the most extraordinary champions of democracy on this continent or any other once said ‘Do not be afraid.’ We shouldn't be afraid of our people even when they express views that disagree with their leadership.”
.@VP: "To believe in democracy is to understand that each of our citizens has wisdom and has a voice, and if we refuse to listen to that voice, even our most successful fights will secure very little. As Pope John Paul II, in my view, one of the most extraordinary champions of… pic.twitter.com/nhF6wwLbyo
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 14, 2025
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