United States Vice President J.D. Vance warned about a “threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values” in his speech to various European defence leaders at the Munich Defence Conference.
Vance briefly discussed defence policy but focused on European speech, laws, and actions. He railed against the Romanian annulment of their most recent general election result, as well as German raids against those “suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online.”
Vance also focused on the Scottish Safe Access Zones Act. He accused the Scottish government of “warning [citizens] that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law.” This was in reference to anti-abortion protestors outside of clinics.
MSP Gillian Mackey wrote a letter to the U.S. United Kingdom Embassy, stating that “the letter that VP Vance referenced does not mention private prayer and does not suggest it would be criminalised.“
In America, responses have fallen along mixed feelings on U.S. policy toward Europe.
A DemsAbroad correspondent remarked that the “enemy within” comment is a standard tool of right-wing politicians within the United States to create othering, especially of the government.
One college student from Ohio, Vance’s home state, said this symbolises a “divergence between modern Europe and America.”
““Americans call them hillbillies, rednecks or white trash. I call them my neighbors, friends and family’—JD Vance #PoliticsOnTheEdge 🇺🇸” by dullhunk is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.