Mr. Vance's Most Excellent European Vacation
Okay, so I gave myself a little artistic license with that. It's allowed.
J.D. Vance, our terrific vice president, has been on a bit of an introductory jog through the old country for the past few days and is making quite a name for himself as he does so.
His first stop was in Paris a couple of days ago for what was billed as the 'AI Action Summit."
And 'Summit' it pretty much was, co-hosted by France's President, Emmanuel Macron, and India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, and attended by either world leaders or their high-level representatives plus the big-wigs of tech, with everyone in-between.
World leaders, tech moguls and assorted hangers-on (including yours truly) are gathered in Paris this week for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, a conference co-hosted by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, to discuss a host of A.I.-related issues.
The leaders of three American A.I. companies — Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind — are here, as are a flock of prominent A.I. leaders, academic researchers and civil society groups. (Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the U.S. delegation, is expected to appear on Tuesday.)
Let me take a moment to THANK SCHWEET BABY JESUS once again for delivering us on November 5th of last year and assuring our former 'AI Czar' was not now our *gulp* president.
No. Instead of that gibbering, cackling idiot, we elected Donald Trump and this guy as vice president.
The one who got up in front of the brainiac titans of the tech world and proceeded to dazzle everyone with his first speech on an international stage.
Vice President JD Vance delivered a brilliant speech at the Paris AI Summit. It's a remarkable shift to have a VP who is confident, commands the room, speaks with authority and knowledge, and conveys the administration's policy with clarity and optimism.…
— Helen Raleigh (@HRaleighspeaks) February 12, 2025
After an absolutely charming opening quip about being there 'for the good company and free wine,' not only was Vance fluent in the lingo, but he also delivered it with an America-first twist that had to set some European teeth on edge.
In fact, I remember Xweeting that European Union (and Chief Bond Villainess) President Ursula Von der Leyen looked as if she'd swallowed a prune.
Vice President JD Vance gave his first major international address today since assuming office at the AI Action Summit in Paris, France. Summary below.
— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) February 11, 2025
Some of those in attendance were President Macron, Prime Minister Modi, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, UN Secretary-General… pic.twitter.com/dicGU9RukP
...Some of those in attendance were President Macron, Prime Minister Modi, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Trudeau and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. MAIN POINTS
* The Trump Administration (TTA) will ensure that American AI is the global gold standard and the USA wants to be the AI partner of choice
* TTA does not want the AI sector to be overly regulated
* TTA feels strongly that AI must remain free from ideological biases
* TTA will maintain a pro-worker growth path for AI
* TTA is concerned about potential international crackdowns on American tech companies
* Creating energy for AI
* TTA is anti-censorship
* TTA will block foreign adversaries from using tech as surveillance tools
* America will provide the education necessary for the AI sector
* American workers will have a seat at the AI table
* TTA is focused on the opportunity of AI rather than its potential danger
Watch this little clip as he's speaking, and you'll see what I mean.
The EU leader's face when he was speaking 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/E03A58Y9AO
— adie (@adielivingitup) February 11, 2025
J.D.'s gentle jibes about over-regulation and censorship probably should have been taken as warning shots because his next speech a few days later- in Munich at the Security Conference in session there now - turned into a barn burner of epic proportions.
Vance delivered a rousing lesson in what inherent rights and freedoms are and what they mean in action. He called out real-life, real-time examples of European authoritarianism one by one and dropped them in the perpetrators' laps as they listened to him.
It was an all-American calling on the carpet of the old Brahmin order, and it's frickin' glorious.
JD Vance slams Europe for retreating from its own values, allowing Western Civilization to lose itself. pic.twitter.com/dQxF56RIS8
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) February 14, 2025
"...The threat I worry about most...is the threat within...is the retreat from Europe itself...from the fundamental values it shares with the United States..."
On immigration.
VP Vance: Out of all the pressing challenges the nations represented here face, I believe there is nothing more urgent than mass migration...We saw the horrors wrought by these decisions yesterday in this very city...No voter on this continent went to that ballot box to open the… pic.twitter.com/EafdZYK4c0
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) February 14, 2025
He takes Germany, the EU 'commissars,' Sweden, etc. to the woodshed in example after example of their grinding citizens' rights and freedoms into so much dust.
🚨 THIS IS A MASTERCLASS.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 14, 2025
J.D. Vance, speaking to countless European leaders: Unfortunately, when I look to Europe today, it's sometimes not so clear what happened to the Cold War's winners... Brussels was warning citizens they plan to shut down social media during times of… pic.twitter.com/xTOyrjQTFX
Canceling elections came in for criticism.
JD Vance: "If your democracy can be destroyed by a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country then it wasn't very strong to begin with."
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 14, 2025
JD Vance slams Romania for canceling its presidential election under pressure of its continental neighbors… pic.twitter.com/TdaQHmRvZT
Vance tells European and EU leaders to lighten up, suck it up, and embrace what their citizens have to tell them instead of trying to manipulate or censor their thoughts, actions and words.
Europe just got hit with the "freedom lecture" speedrun.
— Richard Ward 지앰프 (@zeampzpvy) February 14, 2025
And then he laid on a burn about their collective, hysterical sniveling that will need more than Bactine to ease the sting.
OMG.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 14, 2025
VP JD VANCE: If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg's scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk. pic.twitter.com/qLvQsYLttY
As Vance wrapped up his flaming freedom panegyric to the overlords of Europe, he closed with words that offer warning and comfort to the antediluvian suzerains from that wisest of modern saints if they choose to listen.
Catholic U.S. Vice President JD Vance quoted Pope John Paul II today at the Munich Security Conference, calling him “one of the extraordinary champions of democracy” and referencing his words, “Be not afraid.” pic.twitter.com/MJHZjlfjOL
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) February 14, 2025
Oh, yeah.
...Vance is condemning those who want to defend Europe but not the defining right of free speech. He has called on these countries to stop silencing their citizens. The delegates do not appear happy, but those of us in the free speech community are perfectly euphoric.…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 14, 2025
Oh, YEAH.
Vance leaves Paris, carrying his daughter—only to set her down to take pictures with police.
— Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) February 13, 2025
This is exactly the kind of role model America needs.
Get married. Have kids.
View children as blessings, not burdens.
pic.twitter.com/QeT1IA40wz
We are so back.
BEEGE ADDS: Okay, a little lagniappe, y'all. Enjoy.
#CallAWaahmbulance
— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) February 14, 2025
Somebody got burned badly https://t.co/lC1gCVz4Ly
...The whining came after Vance ripped European nations for criminalizing free speech and acting like tyrants.
"If I understood him correctly, he compares the condition of Europe with the condition that prevails in some authoritarian regimes."
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is not acceptable. This is not acceptable. This is not the Europe where I live."
I have a serious snicker on right now.
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