The Daily Populous Saturday February 22nd, 2025 night edition
Authored by politico.eu and submitted by Ratnaprofitercina

His comments, which received loud applause from the CPAC crowd, continue a stark escalation in the Trump administration’s approach to transatlantic relations. The remarks follow a fiery speech Vance delivered earlier this month at the Munich Security Conference, where he lambasted European leaders for their migration policies and alleged censorship of political dissent.

Vance’s address in Munich drew sharp reactions across the European political spectrum, as he accused Western leaders of undermining democratic values through mass migration and speech suppression.

At CPAC, he further argued that Western governments, particularly under the previous Biden administration, had imposed a culture of censorship that mirrored policies in authoritarian states.

“The Biden administration did more to destroy free speech, not just in the United States, but also in Europe, than any administration in American history,” he said. “Follow the lead of Donald J. Trump, and that's free speech, borders and sovereignty. That is the future for our shared civilization.”

Vance’s comments signal that the Trump administration may be prepared to apply direct pressure on Germany and other NATO allies by threatening to withdraw or reduce the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Germany hosts around 35,000 U.S. troops, a legacy of America’s post-World War II security commitments and Cold War deterrence strategy.

While the Trump administration has long criticized European governments for not contributing enough to their own defense, Vance’s remarks tie the issue explicitly to Germany’s domestic policies rather than financial burden-sharing.

A spokesperson for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s office declined to comment directly but reiterated Berlin’s commitment to democratic principles and European security.

“I would prefer not to constantly react to statements from the administration," the spokesperson said. "I still believe in reason and in facts, and I hope that in America, the real facts will be heard. And that is what we must rely on.”

Far-Explanation4621 on February 21st, 2025 at 17:45 UTC »

Sure, just give away our access hub to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Give away our 100,000 acres and many, many assets in the region. Our enemies would only be so happy.

Also, where would these 35,000 US troops and billions in military hardware and equipment go? Are we expanding US bases or downsizing our military and capabilities altogether?

some_random_guy- on February 21st, 2025 at 17:33 UTC »

When he says he's afraid to get thrown in jail for a "mean tweet" what he means is that Germany has anti-Nazi laws that he's scared he's about to run afoul of.

vingt-2 on February 21st, 2025 at 17:23 UTC »

What do they think will happen to American interests when they are not longer useful?