JD Vance: The New Sheriff at the Munich Security Conference

Brussels (Brussels Morning) – JD Vance has surprised analysts with his speech on Friday, shifting the focus to issues surrounding European democracies and freedom of expression rather than external threats like the war in Ukraine or rising tensions with China.

If you are running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you 

Speaking at the blank”>2025 Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a characteristically surprising speech, presenting his administration’s perspective on the challenges Europe is currently facing.

What I worry the most about, vis-à-vis Europe, is not Russia […] it is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values

he said to introduce his blank”>speech.

Despite the ongoing blank”>three-year-old war in Europe, Vance directly criticized recent political developments across the continent. He condemned Romania’s blank”>annulment of national elections won by far-right independent candidate Călin Georgescu and criticized Brussels for its willingness to block social media platforms during protests under the pretext of regulating “hateful content.”

Vance continued his critique, highlighting various cases across Europe, including the UK’s blank”>controversial criminalization of silent prayer near abortion clinics, which he argued set a dangerous precedent for suppressing free expression in the name of social order.

“In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town”

The Trump administration has, for better or worse, fulfilled many of the expectations set during the American election campaign. With a more nationalist and assertive approach to foreign policy, Vance’s reference to a “sheriff” is telling—evoking a strong, masculine image tied to America’s belief in its Manifest Destiny and strength. Europeans should take note; they cannot say they were not warned. 

Breaking with diplomatic norms, Vance also cited Brexit as an example of the people’s will being respected and appeared to use internal EU conflicts as political leverage. This aligns with Trump’s recent blank”>aggressive tariff policies, which are intended to serve as political bargaining tools.

Additionally, Vance emphasized mass migration and illegal immigration as key concerns, further signaling the Trump administration’s intent to influence European debates on cultural identity and immigration while downplaying climate change and globalization. This approach is reflected in the involvement of figures like blank”>special government employee Elon Musk, who has expressed support for Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

It is worth noting that while Vance’s speech resonated with certain groups, it was met with silence and discomfort by many European officials present at the conference.