Vice President JD Vance pushed back firmly against European criticism of the Trump administration’s foreign policy posture on Sunday, telling Fox News that American concerns about Europe stem not from hostility but from a genuine desire to see the continent succeed — and a growing frustration that European leaders are undermining their own future.
“It’s not that we don’t like Europe, even though you hear that from the European press,” Vance said during a wide-ranging studio interview. “It’s not that we don’t respect our allies. It’s that they are doing a lot of things to sabotage themselves. We would like that to stop.”
The remarks came in the context of ongoing discussions about Europe’s defense posture, border security, and economic trajectory — themes that Vance addressed forcefully at last year’s Munich Security Conference, where his speech drew long faces from European leaders in attendance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a similar address at this year’s conference, though his remarks were received with noticeably more applause — a contrast Vance addressed with characteristic candor.
“I heard someone say I was the bad cop so Marco could be the good cop,” Vance said with a wry tone, before adding that Rubio’s speech nonetheless drove home the same critical message. “He actually outlined a very smart view of American foreign policy, and it’s the foreign policy we’ve been pursuing for about a year and a month.”
At the heart of the administration’s message to Europe, Vance explained, is a straightforward demand rooted in partnership rather than antagonism. The United States, he said, has consistently pressed European allies on three fronts: increasing defense spending, securing their borders, and recommitting to free expression. He acknowledged that some progress has been made on all three but stressed that it remains insufficient.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, but frankly we want our European allies to do a lot better,” he said. “We want them to do better for their own sake, but also because we think they can be better partners in the process.”
Vance indicated that some European leaders are beginning to come around to the administration’s viewpoint, though the message is still falling on deaf ears in certain quarters. The Vice President expressed hope that the momentum would continue, framing America’s push as one driven by alliance-building rather than alienation.
“We would like them to be an ally in the true sense of the word,” he said.
The comments reflect a broader strategic posture by the Trump administration, which has made no secret of its impatience with European governments it views as overreliant on American military and economic support while resisting difficult domestic reforms. For Vance, the message is simple: the United States is not turning its back on Europe — it is demanding that Europe rise to meet the moment alongside it…..See More
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