U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a strident speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday hitting several far-right lightning rod topics, and ribbing European leaders.
The speech seemed another indication of a growing rift between the U.S. and its European allies under a potential second Trump administration.
Vance argued that Europe’s greatest threat is not Russia or China, but rather a departure from fundamental democratic values. “The threat I’m most worried about facing Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external factor. What I’m worried about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values it shares with the United States of America,” he stated.
He expressed concern over what he described as increasing censorship, declining free speech, and a disconnect between European leaders and their citizens. He pointed to recent actions in countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Romania as evidence of democratic backsliding.
“In Britain and across Europe, freedom of speech, I fear, is in decline. We need to do more than talk about democratic values. We need to live them,” Vance stated. He also criticized efforts to curb disinformation, calling terms like “misinformation” and “disinformation” “Soviet-era words” used to justify suppression of dissenting views.
In one of the most striking moments of his speech, Vance addressed European leaders directly, urging them to take a more populist approach. “There is no security if you fear the voices, opinions, and conscience that guide your own people… If you run in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you,” he declared, receiving a muted response from the audience.
Vance also criticized European migration policies, using a recent attack in Munich allegedly carried out by an Afghan migrant as an example of apparently bad immigration policy. He suggested that European leaders are ignoring public opinion against migration.
Despite expectations that his speech would center on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Vance largely avoided the topic. His only significant comment on the conflict was that the Trump administration seeks a “reasonable settlement” between Russia and Ukraine, without elaborating on what such a settlement would entail.
His remarks stood in stark contrast to those of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who underscored the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine both militarily and economically. Von der Leyen emphasized that European security depends on preventing a failed Ukraine, outlining the EU’s €134 billion in support to the country and stressing the importance of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
Vance’s speech was met with shock from many European leaders. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko described the speech as “the complete humiliation of all European leaders.”
US Vice President Vance just spoke. The only thing that can be said about Vance’s speech was the total humiliation of all European leaders. People in the room are shocked.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) February 14, 2025
European leaders also pushed back against Vance’s criticisms. Von der Leyen, who spoke after Vance, defended Europe’s commitment to free speech while emphasizing the importance of countering harmful online content.
Earlier this week von der Leyen condemned the United States’ recent decision to impose a 25% tariff on European steel and aluminum exports. In a statement she warned that the European Union would not let these tariffs go unanswered.
Following the speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to reports of recent contact between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky warned Trump that Putin is a “liar who cannot be trusted”. He recalled past agreements with Putin on ceasefires and prisoner exchanges that were not honored, urging the U.S. to remain firm against Russian aggression.
