In a recent appearance on a CNN panel, Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) described Vice President Vance's speech about censorship as "pure hypocrisy." The speech, delivered in Munich, criticized European officials for allegedly censoring speech they disagreed with.
Gillen expressed her concerns about Vance's actions in Germany, stating, "What JD Vance is doing in Germany is really concerning." The New York Democrat highlighted the rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, both in her district and across the United States.
According to Gillen, the Anti-Defamation League has called out the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a group Vance is accused of embracing. "It's really, really disturbing," she noted, pointing out that the AfD flirts with Nazism.
On Friday, Vice President Vance met with a leader of the AfD party, becoming the highest-ranking member to do so. The meeting occurred ahead of Germany's national elections on February 23, coinciding with a security conference in Munich attended by world leaders.
The meeting and Vance's subsequent speech attracted significant criticism. Vance argued that the biggest threat facing Europe was not international adversaries, but mass migration and laws that restrict free speech, which he described as a "threat from within."
German officials did not receive Vance's message well. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that it was unacceptable for Europe to be likened to authoritarian regimes. Additionally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Vance, stating that his embrace of the AfD was "not appropriate."
Gillen reiterated her stance on the panel, emphasizing, "It's pure hypocrisy." She also mentioned that the AfD is a party being boosted by Elon Musk. Musk, leading President Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency," has faced criticism for his support of the far-right political party.
Last month, Musk appeared virtually at an AfD rally, encouraging attendees not to be ashamed of their country's history. He has also been accused by the German government of tampering with the country's elections.
