‘Frightening Bullshit’: Senate Democrat Hammers JD Vance Saying Europe’s Biggest Threat Is ‘Within’ — Not Russia or China

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) pulled no punches on Friday in reacting to Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference. Vance admonished some of the U.S.’s closest allies and accused them of attacking free speech, which he claimed was a greater threat to the future of Europe than either Russia or China.

Fox News’s Jennifer Griffin reported on the key quote from the speech. “JD Vance attacks Europe over migration, censorship and free speech, calling EU Commission “commissars,” leaving allies baffled. Little mention of Russia as a threat or support for Ukraine,” Griffin reported, noting:

The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia. It’s not China. It’s not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values….If American democracy can survive ten years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.

Murphy shared a clip from Vance’s address as well, adding, “What frightening bullshit.”

“Trump and Vance have done more to smash free speech in America than any other Administration in our lifetime. It’s their plan. They know it. So they lie to cover it up.”

Murphy then dropped a lengthy thread detailing what he argues are the Trump administration’s attacks on freedom of speech:

First, they pardoned all the Jan 6th rioters. This was done to protect violence when it’s used to target Trump critics (remember, the rioters were there to kill Pence and Democrats).

Every despot uses the threat of violence to silence its opposition.

Then they fired the government inspector generals, put a gag order on federal employees and required them to make loyalty pledges.

All designed to throw darkness over Trump and Musk’s illegal actions and purge independent thinking from government.

Next, their US Attorney started trolling Trump critics online, threatening one with arrest. He sent a letter to Musk saying he would investigate anyone Musk alleged was “interfering” with DOGE.

Law enforcement is now part of the plan to crush dissent.

The FCC jumped in too. They announced an investigation into a radio station owned by a prominent Trump critic just because it reported on a local ICE raid. No other local station who reported on the raid was targeted. Classic harassment of opponents.

Another part of the plan is the seizure of spending power. Trump will release spending for friends and withhold spending from opponents. A tried and true tactic of monarchs who control speech by using the treasury to reward allies and punish enemies.

And then, just this week, the Associated Press was kicked out of the White House because they refused to use the term “Gulf of America”. No press will be able to cover the White House unless their content and terms are approved by the regime.

Same as Stalin or Mussolini.

Murphy concluded with a look to the future, writing, “Our response? They only win if their tactics convince us to stay silent. We have power in numbers and solidarity. If we respond by getting LOUDER, instead of going silent like they want, we send a clear message that they can’t win. Show up more. Organize more. Post more.”