Staff Reports
The ongoing battle for freedom in Europe has recently caught the attention of Vice President JD Vance, who seems less than impressed with the continent’s self-appointed defenders of democracy. During a recent speech, Vance laid down some hard truths that sent European leaders into a tizzy, reminding them that they can’t demand military support while they’re simultaneously knee-deep in an anti-free speech swamp of their own making.
Drawing from nearly two decades of escalating jihadist threats on European soil and the often pathetic responses of European nations, Vance echoed sentiments previously shared by former CIA agent Michael Scheuer, who didn’t mince words about Europe’s inconsistent backbone. Today, European countries are engaged in a struggle that primarily comes from within, as more and more they adopt measures that stifle free expression—a cornerstone of any democracy worth its salt. It’s clear that if these nations want to fight for shared democratic values, they ought to consider not trampling on those very principles at the same time.
🇺🇸🇩🇪 This German diplomat was mocking and laughing at Trump, during his speech in 2018.
Now he couldn’t take it and started crying, after JD Vance told them to stop censoring people.
All of Europe symbolized in this one man. pic.twitter.com/3BIxsnjlFO
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) February 17, 2025
The Vice President didn’t shy away from calling out specific culprits, slapping down the likes of Thierry Breton, an EU figure emblematic of the oppressive move against free speech under the guise of combating disinformation. How can countries lecture the United States about shared freedoms, while simultaneously passing bubbly “Digital Services Acts” that seem intent on turning speech into a regulated commodity? Vance posed the question piercingly: how can nations seek military support while they are actively dismantling the democratic ideals that supposedly unify them with the U.S.?
In his zeal to expose these hypocrites, Vance brought attention to some hilariously absurd examples from across the pond. In Canada, the case of Maria Kartasheva illustrates just how ludicrous free speech suppression has become, even ensnaring those who dare to express dissenting views about international conflicts. Using the dubious rationale of a criminal conviction in Russia, the Canadian government showed it was willing to align itself more with authoritarian tactics than the cherished freedoms it claims to uphold.
Upon elaborating on the myriad of offensive policies, Vance demonstrated a strikingly ironic hypocrisy that should outrage any free-thinking individual. For instance, British authorities have escalated to arresting individuals for nothing more than silent prayer near abortion clinics while Sweden takes the absurdity to new heights by prosecuting citizens who dare to burn a Koran. His blistering points invoked further scrutiny on why freedom of expression is now seen as less valid than the unfounded insecurities of those in power, and revealed that the underlying argument for these crackdowns is flimsy at best.
To add some amusement to the proceedings, the quaking responses from elite European figures serve as a reminder of how out of touch they truly are. The sights of German officials melting down over Vance’s speech—complete with cries for censorship in the face of criticism—were enough to make even the most stoic observer chuckle. One can only wonder if these leaders even realize how ridiculous they sound, dressing their cries of “insanity” in imported notions of political correctness while living in nations that once directly suppressed free speech for decades.
Vance’s speech surely hit home, drawing attention to the alarming tide of censorship lapping at the shores of Western democracy. As he relentlessly drove the point home, it became clear that the ongoing fight for speech freedoms on both sides of the Atlantic is far from over. If Europe wants to maintain its claim to democratic principles, a good starting point would be to stop tearing them apart from within and to recognize that, sometimes, the biggest threats come not from foreign attackers, but from their own policies of self-sabotage.
