US vice-president questions whether European values are worth defending as he rails against ‘threat from within’

Summary

At the Munich Security Conference, JD Vance criticized European leaders for suppressing free speech, mishandling migration, and ignoring populist concerns.

He questioned whether Europe’s values still aligned with America’s and warned of a “threat from within,” rather than Russia or China.

His speech, which largely avoided discussing Ukraine, shocked attendees and drew condemnation from EU and German officials but was praised by Russian state media.

Vance’s private meeting with Germany’s far-right AfD leader and his dismissal of mainstream politicians further deepened tensions between the U.S. and Europe.

  • reddig33@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    7 days ago

    For Vance, this is just “otherism”. It’s an old trick — your problems are not something you actually need to take responsibility for — it’s all the fault of the “others” in your country. While migration may be a hot mess, the republicans play the card of “all crime is due to these others”. Pay no attention to the grifters elected in the US currently stealing all your money and data.

    • FourPacketsOfPeanuts@lemmy.worldEnglish
      62·
      7 days ago

      Indeed. Which makes it an even bigger problem that there are hardly enough moderate politicians saying “here’s what we hear you saying about migration and he’s what we will actually do to rectify that”