President Donald Trump called Vice President J.D. Vance's speech 'brilliant' and said it received good reviews after the address stunned allies Friday in Munich.
Vance used his appearance at the Munich Security Conference to chide Europeans over their immigration policy and for curbing free speech.
He said they were facing a 'crisis' and it was 'one of our own making.'
In the Oval Office Friday afternoon, Trump was asked his thoughts on Vance's speech, which had 'ruffled feathers' with allies.
'What did he say to ruffle them?' Trump first asked, before indicating that he had indeed watched Vance's appearance.
The president was then asked if he believed there was a fundamental difference in how European allies viewed the world versus the Republican administration.
'I heard his speech and he talked about freedom of speech. And I think it's true in Europe, it's losing, they're losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech. I see it,' Trump answered. 'I mean, I thought he made a very good speech actually, a very brilliant speech.'
Trump added: 'I thought this speech was very well received actually.'
President Donald Trump called Vice President J.D. Vance's speech in Munich 'brilliant' after the VP torched allies in Munich over speech freedoms and immigation policy
Vance used his appearance at the Munich Security Conference to chide Europeans over their immigration policy and for curbing free speech.
'Europe has to be careful,' Trump warned.
The president, like Vance, then criticized European immigration policy, saying it has created an uptick in crime.
The room at the Munich Security Conference was packed to hear Vance speak.
He was expected to address the war in Ukraine - on the heels of President Donald Trump's call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first leader-to-leader contact between the two nations since the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Also on Friday, Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Vance instead brought the culture war to the stage.
'Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making,' he said.
'If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.'
He accused European Union officials of 'canceling elections and asked whether 'we're holding ourselves to an appropriately higher standard'.
'There is a new sheriff in town,' he said referring to President Donald Trump. 'We may disagree with your views but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square.'
He cited the example of a British man, Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested after he refused to leave a safe zone around an abortion clinic designed to protect vulnerable women.
Vance claimed it was an attack on the 'basic liberties of religious Britons' that 'criminalizes prayer.'
'British law enforcement spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for,' said Vance.
'Adam replied simply, it was on behalf of the unborn son that his former girlfriend had aborted years before.'
He accused European leaders of echoing communist language by acting against 'disinformation' and 'misinformation.'
And he hammered Trump's longstanding demand that European nations spend more on their own defense.
