Feb 15, 2025
JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
US Vice President JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference that was mostly critical of Europe's censoring practices. He even dragged Tesla CEO Elon Musk in his joke.
Stressing the assembled leaders that they should pay more attention to their voters, Vance said, if the United States could “survive” the backlash from Thunberg, then Europe could withstand that of Musk.
“Trust me, I say this with all humor,” he replied. “If American democracy can survive ten years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.”
His remarks were made in the midst of heated disputes about immigration, free speech, and populism between the US and its European allies.
Vance came under fire from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who claimed that Vance “called into question democracy for the whole of Europe.” “He is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes... that is not acceptable.”
However, some users on X hailed Vance's speech, with one saying he is the “best VP that America has ever had.”
“I have never in my life been able to say I am proud of my Vice President until God had mercy on us and gave us,” a second user wrote.
“Amazing speech. Great line,” one more commented.
Some even noted that Vance's joke fell flat as “nobody laughed” and “the audience was completely disoriented.”
x.com
x.com
JD Vance criticizes European policies
During his speech, Vance also targetted European policies, claiming that internal enemies, not foreign foes like China or Russia, pose the biggest threat to European democracy. European leaders responded sharply to his comments, especially in Germany, where a pivotal election is just days away.
Vance reaffirmed the Trump administration's harsh position on matters like border security and ideological conflicts over free speech when he said, “There is a new sheriff in town under Donald Trump's leadership.”
Vance criticised EU “commissars” for suppressing free speech, alleging that he fears “free speech is in retreat” across Europe.
Trump reacts to Vance's speech
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump reacted to Vance's criticism of longstanding US partners.
He said that he listened to Vance's remarks. “He talked about freedom of speech. And I think it's true in Europe,” Trump stated. “They're losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech.”
The President even claimed that Europe suffers from a “big immigration problem.”
x.com
Peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine are to start in the coming days after U.S. President Donald Trump shocked European allies by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and declaring an immediate start to the talks.
During the call on Saturday, which was initiated by the U.S. side, Lavrov and Rubio agreed to work on restoring "mutually respectful interstate dialogue" in line with the tone set by the presidents, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The two agreed to maintain contacts to resolve problems in bilateral relations, "in the interests of removing the unilateral barriers to mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment cooperation inherited from the previous administration," the statement said.
It was not immediately clear what specific barriers were discussed.
"The two sides expressed their mutual willingness to interact on pressing international issues, including the settlement around Ukraine, the situation around Palestine and in general in the Middle East in general."
The U.S. under former President Joe Biden and Kyiv's allies across the world imposed waves of sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine three years ago, aimed at weakening the Russian economy and limiting the Kremlin's war efforts.
Trump and Putin spoke for over an hour on Wednesday, the first known direct contact between U.S. and Russian presidents since Putin had a call with Biden shortly before ordering tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
The Russian foreign ministry also said that Lavrov and Rubio discussed also how to tighten the conditions for the functioning of Russian diplomatic missions" in the U.S.
"It was agreed to organise a meeting of experts in the very near future to agree on specific steps to mutually remove obstacles to the work of Russian and U.S. missions abroad," the ministry said in its statement.
JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
US Vice President JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference that was mostly critical of Europe's censoring practices. He even dragged Tesla CEO Elon Musk in his joke.
Stressing the assembled leaders that they should pay more attention to their voters, Vance said, if the United States could “survive” the backlash from Thunberg, then Europe could withstand that of Musk.
“Trust me, I say this with all humor,” he replied. “If American democracy can survive ten years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.”
His remarks were made in the midst of heated disputes about immigration, free speech, and populism between the US and its European allies.
Vance came under fire from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who claimed that Vance “called into question democracy for the whole of Europe.” “He is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes... that is not acceptable.”
However, some users on X hailed Vance's speech, with one saying he is the “best VP that America has ever had.”
“I have never in my life been able to say I am proud of my Vice President until God had mercy on us and gave us,” a second user wrote.
“Amazing speech. Great line,” one more commented.
Some even noted that Vance's joke fell flat as “nobody laughed” and “the audience was completely disoriented.”
x.com
x.com
x.com
x.com
JD Vance criticizes European policies
During his speech, Vance also targetted European policies, claiming that internal enemies, not foreign foes like China or Russia, pose the biggest threat to European democracy. European leaders responded sharply to his comments, especially in Germany, where a pivotal election is just days away.
Vance reaffirmed the Trump administration's harsh position on matters like border security and ideological conflicts over free speech when he said, “There is a new sheriff in town under Donald Trump's leadership.”
Vance criticised EU “commissars” for suppressing free speech, alleging that he fears “free speech is in retreat” across Europe.
Trump reacts to Vance's speech
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump reacted to Vance's criticism of longstanding US partners.
He said that he listened to Vance's remarks. “He talked about freedom of speech. And I think it's true in Europe,” Trump stated. “They're losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech.”
The President even claimed that Europe suffers from a “big immigration problem.”
x.com
x.com
Peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine are to start in the coming days after U.S. President Donald Trump shocked European allies by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and declaring an immediate start to the talks.
During the call on Saturday, which was initiated by the U.S. side, Lavrov and Rubio agreed to work on restoring "mutually respectful interstate dialogue" in line with the tone set by the presidents, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The two agreed to maintain contacts to resolve problems in bilateral relations, "in the interests of removing the unilateral barriers to mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment cooperation inherited from the previous administration," the statement said.
It was not immediately clear what specific barriers were discussed.
"The two sides expressed their mutual willingness to interact on pressing international issues, including the settlement around Ukraine, the situation around Palestine and in general in the Middle East in general."
The U.S. under former President Joe Biden and Kyiv's allies across the world imposed waves of sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine three years ago, aimed at weakening the Russian economy and limiting the Kremlin's war efforts.
Trump and Putin spoke for over an hour on Wednesday, the first known direct contact between U.S. and Russian presidents since Putin had a call with Biden shortly before ordering tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
The Russian foreign ministry also said that Lavrov and Rubio discussed also how to tighten the conditions for the functioning of Russian diplomatic missions" in the U.S.
"It was agreed to organise a meeting of experts in the very near future to agree on specific steps to mutually remove obstacles to the work of Russian and U.S. missions abroad," the ministry said in its statement.
