CNN Host Says Vance ‘Basically Right’ About Lack Of Free Speech In Europe

On Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria acknowledged that Vice President J.D. Vance is “basically right” when it comes to his critiques of Europe’s approach to free speech.

Vance’s remarks, which were delivered at the Munich Security Conference last month, stirred up strong reactions from leaders across Europe. The vice president had called attention to the continent’s restrictive speech policies, pointing to what he described as Orwellian “hate speech” laws that have led to hundreds of people being jailed for expressing political opinions that authorities deemed “offensive.”

“I look to Brussels, where E.U. commissars warn that they intend to shut down social media during times of civil unrest the moment what they spot to be ‘hateful content,’” Vance said, before turning his focus to Germany itself.

“Or to this very country, where police have carried out raids against citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online as part of ‘combatting misogyny on the internet,’ a day of action,” he continued.

Vance closed his speech by describing Europe’s free speech crisis as the most urgent threat facing the continent today — cautioning that if this foundational Western liberty continues to erode, it could ultimately damage the alliance between the U.S. and Europe.

Later, during Maher’s panel discussion, the host told his guests that he found himself agreeing with Vance’s stance on the need to protect free speech. However, Maher admitted he was taken aback by Vance’s commentary regarding Germany’s elections.

That’s when Zakaria weighed in.

“So, I agree with you on the — that part of Vance’s speech, he’s basically right. It’s important to remember, European countries have never had the First Amendment-type protections that we have,” the CNN anchor remarked.

“Europe has always had a more regulated speech. As a journalist, I know it’s always easier to get sued in Britain, because, again, we have an amazing set of protections with the First Amendment. And the Germans have a particular history, you’re right, for example, Holocaust denial, which is allowed in the U.S., anyone can say whatever they want, it’s illegal in Germany because they are sensitive to the Nazi past,” Zakaria elaborated.

But after that candid acknowledgment, Zakaria — who is generally left-leaning — criticized other portions of Vance’s address as being “offensive” both to himself and to some in Europe.

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Later that same day, Vice President Vance confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a tense and heated meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump.

During the exchange, Trump pointed his finger at Zelensky — who was seated directly beside him — and told the Ukrainian leader that he should “be thankful” after the U.S. had funneled tens of billions of dollars in aid and military support into Ukraine under the Biden administration, following Russia’s invasion in 2022.

“It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this,” Trump said, at which point Vance stepped in.

“You can say ‘thank you’ –” Vance started, only to have Zelensky cut him off, insisting that he had already thanked “the American people” many times for their support.

Vance pressed forward. “You can accept that there are disagreements,” he said. “And let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong. We know you’re wrong.”

Trump then took over once again.

“But you see, I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on,” Trump said. “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers –” Trump continued as Zelensky attempted to interrupt.

“No, listen,” Trump pressed on. “Then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a cease fire. I don’t want a cease fire.’ Look — if you could get a cease-fire right now, I tell ya you’d take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”

Zelensky responded. “Of course I want to stop the war,” he said. “But I said to you with guarantees.”