In a controversial move, US Vice President JD Vance met with Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party, prompting outrage in German political circles. This meeting, weeks before a German election, follows similar interactions between the AfD and figures close to Donald Trump, highlighting a growing US engagement with Europe’s far-right. Vance’s subsequent speech at the Munich Security Conference, criticizing European leaders for not working with far-right parties, further strained US-European relations. The German chancellor and other officials strongly condemned Vance’s actions and statements.
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At the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance criticized European nations for internal issues, prioritizing them over external threats like Russia, sparking immediate backlash from European leaders. His comments, focusing on free speech and migration, were seen as undermining the transatlantic alliance and were directly rebuked by German officials. This incident further highlighted existing tensions stemming from the Trump administration’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, particularly concerning peace negotiations excluding Kyiv and Europe. Despite a subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, where Vance emphasized ending the war, the VP’s earlier remarks underscored a growing divergence in views between the US and its European allies.
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Following comments by U.S. Vice President JD Vance urging German politicians to cooperate with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the German government issued a rebuke. The spokesperson stated that foreign interference in the upcoming German election is inappropriate. Vance’s comments echo similar interventions by Elon Musk, prompting concern over outside influence on German politics. This intervention comes at a sensitive time, with a snap election scheduled for February 23.
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President Trump declined to endorse Vice President JD Vance as his successor in the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, citing it being too early to make such a decision. While praising Vance’s performance, Trump highlighted the numerous capable individuals within the Republican party. This statement surprised some, given Vance’s close alignment with Trump and widely perceived potential candidacy. The decision leaves open the question of who will lead the Republican party after Trump’s presidency, with numerous other candidates potentially emerging.
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Following a federal judge’s blocking of Elon Musk’s access to sensitive Treasury Department information, Vice President JD Vance argued on X that the President possesses the authority to disregard judicial rulings obstructing executive orders. He drew parallels to military and prosecutorial actions, asserting that courts cannot control executive power. This stance, echoed by others including Elon Musk, has been met with sharp criticism from legal experts and lawmakers who emphasize the principle of the rule of law and the judiciary’s role in checking executive power. Numerous federal judges have already issued rulings against the current administration’s executive orders, highlighting the ongoing tension between the executive and judicial branches.
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Following recent court rulings against the Trump administration, Vice President Vance and Elon Musk advocated for curtailing judicial power. Vance argued that judges lack authority over executive actions, while Musk proposed annually removing the lowest-performing 1% of judges. These comments followed court orders blocking the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to Treasury systems and its “Fork in the Road” initiative. Critics, including several Democratic lawmakers, condemned these statements as an attack on the judiciary and a threat to democratic principles.
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Vice President Vance advocates for the rehiring of Marko Elez, a 25-year-old DOGE staffer who resigned following the revelation of racist social media posts. Vance argues that while Elez’s views are objectionable, his termination based solely on past social media activity is unwarranted. He emphasizes that Elez’s performance as a key figure in DOGE’s restructuring of federal agencies should be the determining factor in employment, not online comments. Elez, who had limited access to sensitive systems, resigned after his posts were reported by The Wall Street Journal.
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In response to criticism regarding pardons granted to January 6th rioters who assaulted law enforcement, Vance asserted his continued support for these pardons. He argued that the actions of the rioters should be distinguished from what he characterized as the Department of Justice’s politically motivated prosecutions of over 1,000 individuals. This distinction, Vance implied, justified the pardons, despite the rioters’ violent acts against police. The interview highlighted a sharp disagreement over the culpability of the rioters and the fairness of the subsequent legal processes.
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Brandon Straka, sentenced to three years for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, celebrated the removal of a website he claims was used by the federal government to harass those involved. This website allegedly contained unproven FBI and DOJ accusations against January 6th participants, impacting their employment and personal lives. Straka credits Congressman Troy Nehls, and Ed Martin, Trump’s newly appointed U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., for the website’s takedown. Martin’s own involvement in the “Stop the Steal” movement is noteworthy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker