On Thursday at CPAC, Vice President JD Vance defended President Trump’s rapid actions in his second term, emphasizing shared foreign policy views and the importance of right-wing values in U.S.-European relations. Vance, fresh from a controversial speech in Munich, argued that friendship is grounded in shared values, criticizing suppression of dissent. He endorsed Elon Musk’s efforts to cut federal spending, stating it would benefit Americans financially. Vance acknowledged the need for patience as Trump addresses inflation issues, while also emphasizing support for families and children. He humorously noted his wife’s advice to be kinder on social media.
Vice President JD Vance defended the whirlwind first month of President Trump’s second term on Thursday, emphasizing their shared foreign policy perspectives during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Fresh from a speech in Munich that raised alarms in Europe over his association with a far-right German political group, Mr. Vance stated that America’s future relationships with European allies hinge on their acceptance of right-wing immigration views.
“Friendship is based on shared values,” Mr. Vance asserted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., just outside Washington. He continued: “You cannot claim shared values if you’re so fearful of your own populace that you silence them.”
Mr. Vance’s remarks inaugurated the conference, known as CPAC, which is anticipated to be a three-day endorsement of Mr. Trump’s agenda.
The vice president also spoke at the conclusion of the first month of Mr. Trump’s second term, a time characterized by the president’s rapid issuance of executive orders that often bypass traditional American governmental norms.
Mr. Vance acknowledged the “relentless” pace of Mr. Trump’s administration. In response to a question from Mercedes Schlapp, a former official in the Trump administration, about what stood out, Mr. Vance provided a robust defense of the efforts led by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing federal expenditures.
He framed Mr. Musk’s initiatives in economic terms, asserting that the reduction of federal jobs and programs would ultimately lead to lower costs for Americans.
At one point, Mr. Vance seemed to urge Americans to be patient as Mr. Trump sought to fulfill campaign pledges to decrease grocery and energy prices. “It’s going to require some time to repair the damage caused by Joe Biden over four years,” he remarked.
Mr. Vance has consistently participated in CPAC since securing his Senate seat in Ohio in 2022. The conference has long been a staple of Republican politics, but has become increasingly dominated by Mr. Trump’s brand of nativist right-wing conservatism.
Mr. Vance is, in many respects, a symbol of that shift. He was elected due to his strong ideological alignment with Mr. Trump, gaining wider visibility through media appearances where he articulated robust defenses of the former president’s viewpoints.
Additionally, he has aided Mr. Trump in bridging certain segments of the conservative movement, particularly the religious right, with which the president has had a more fragile relationship. Mr. Vance has taken a firmer stance against abortion than Mr. Trump, who has historically shifted his perspective and recently advocated for leaving the decision to individual states.
On Thursday, Mr. Vance reiterated Mr. Trump’s position but expressed the need for the administration to focus on making parenthood more financially feasible, aiming to “encourage our fellow citizens to reconsider viewing babies as burdens to be cast aside.”
At another juncture, Mr. Vance acknowledged that not everyone in his circle appreciated his often confrontational tone on X, the platform owned by Musk. When Ms. Schlapp asked about advice from his wife, Usha Vance, he shared one of her recommendations.
“‘You should be nicer on social media,’” he recalled her suggesting.