Fictional Open Letter from the German Bundestag to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance
Subject: Clarification of Your Statements at the Munich Security Conference
Dear Vice President Vance,
The German Bundestag has taken note of your speech at the Munich Security Conference with great concern. While transatlantic dialogue is essential, it must be based on facts, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Unfortunately, your speech contained numerous misleading, factually incorrect, or highly distorted claims about Europe, Germany, and our common values.
As representatives of a country deeply committed to democracy, we believe it is our duty to correct the record and clarify the legal foundations of our policies.
1. False Claim: “The Romanian Government Canceled an Entire Election”
You claimed that the Romanian government annulled a national election. This is factually incorrect. In reality, an independent court overturned the election results due to proven Russian interference through disinformation and financial manipulation.
• The decision was based on constitutional law and was not an arbitrary act by the government.
• Romania has already scheduled a new election in accordance with democratic principles.
Rather than signaling a “democratic backslide,” this case demonstrates the rule of law in action—ensuring that elections remain free from foreign interference.
2. Misrepresentation of Free Speech and Rule of Law in Europe
You portrayed Germany, Sweden, and the UK as suppressing free speech. However, in each of the cases you cited, the reality is quite different:
• Germany: Law enforcement does not conduct raids over mere “anti-feminist comments.” Investigations target criminally relevant hate speech, threats, or incitement to violence, similar to U.S. hate crime laws.
• Sweden: A man was convicted not for “burning a Quran” but for inciting hatred against an ethnic group, which is illegal under Swedish law—just as racial incitement laws exist in the U.S.
• United Kingdom: The case of an anti-abortion activist being fined for praying near a clinic was not about “banning prayer.” He violated a legally established buffer zone designed to protect women from harassment and intimidation.
Your speech falsely framed these as attacks on fundamental freedoms. In reality, these laws serve to balance free speech with the protection of individual rights, a core principle of liberal democracies—including the United States.
3. Misleading Narrative on Migration and Crime in Europe
You claimed that Europe is suffering from “out-of-control mass migration” and that asylum seekers are driving a crime wave. This is not supported by data.
• Germany and France have structured immigration and asylum policies, including background checks and deportation procedures for those who do not qualify for protection.
• Crime statistics from national police agencies do not support the claim that asylum seekers are driving a surge in violence.
• The majority of terrorist attacks in Europe have been carried out by far-right extremists, left-wing extremists, or homegrown Islamist radicals—most of whom were born in Europe, not asylum seekers.
By suggesting that migration is the primary driver of crime, you are engaging in political fearmongering rather than factual analysis.
4. Contradictory Position on Democracy
You claim to defend democracy, yet you simultaneously praise populist leaders who systematically undermine democratic institutions.
• You criticize the EU for supposedly manipulating elections, yet Trump himself attempted to overturn the 2020 U.S. election results and incited an attack on the U.S. Capitol.
• You express concern about censorship, yet your own party has attempted to criminalize journalists and silence critics through lawsuits and political pressure.
• You claim to support political pluralism, yet you openly endorse autocratic tendencies in Hungary and elsewhere.
So, what exactly do you mean by “democracy”? A system where only leaders you approve of are allowed to govern?
5. Distortion of European Defense Contributions
Your remarks implied that Europe does not invest enough in its own defense and that the U.S. is carrying an unfair burden. This is false.
• Germany now meets NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target and plans further increases.
• Poland, the Baltic states, and other European allies are making above-average contributions to NATO’s security.
• The European Defense Fund (EDF) and Strategic Compass are strengthening Europe’s collective defense capabilities.
If your concern is burden-sharing, then let’s have a fact-based discussion. But dismissing European defense efforts altogether is misleading.
6. The U.S. as a Moral Authority?
Mr. Vance, if you claim that European democracies are “failing,” we must ask: What about your own country?
• The United States is still grappling with the consequences of a president who falsely claimed an election was “stolen.”
• Your government is actively restricting voting rights in multiple states through partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression laws.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has become highly politicized, overturning decades of precedent based on ideological motivations.
Instead of pointing fingers at Europe, perhaps the U.S. should first address its own democratic challenges.
President Donald Trump’s second term has been marked by actions that severely undermine democratic principles in the United States. His administration has attempted to freeze federal funds, cut research grants, and abolish birthright citizenship. Although these moves have been challenged by federal courts, Trump’s willingness to ignore judicial rulings poses a serious threat to the separation of powers.
Additionally, at least 17 inspectors general have been dismissed, significantly weakening governmental oversight and accountability.
The implementation of “Project 2025” aims to centralize executive power, raising concerns about further erosion of democratic norms.
These developments raise pressing questions about whether the United States is drifting away from its democratic foundations and what the future holds for American democracy.
7. A Fundamental Question: Why Lies as a Political Strategy?
Mr. Vance, one question remains: Why is your administration systematically spreading falsehoods about Europe?
• Is it to weaken European unity?
• Is it to empower autocratic forces that align with your ideology?
• Or is it simply because the U.S. government, under its current leadership, has abandoned truth as a guiding principle?
And finally: How do you explain this to your own children?
• Should they grow up believing that lying is an acceptable political tool?
• Should they learn that truth and facts no longer matter?
• Should all American children be raised in a world where manipulation is normalized?
If you truly believe in democracy and freedom of speech, then start by respecting the facts.
Ich werde die Punkte 8-10 nun ergänzen, damit der Brief vollständig ist.
8. Misrepresentation of Crime Trends in Europe
You painted a picture of Europe as being overrun by crime due to migration, but official statistics tell a different story:
• In Germany, crime rates have remained stable or declined in recent years, even with increased immigration.
• France, Spain, and Italy report similar trends, with no correlation between higher migration and a rise in violent crime.
• The largest proportion of terrorist acts in the EU are committed by right-wing extremists or domestic-born radicalized individuals, not asylum seekers.
This kind of fear-based rhetoric has long been used by populists to justify authoritarian crackdowns. The facts, however, do not support your claims.
9. The Real Challenge for Democracy
You framed your speech as a defense of democratic values, yet many of your statements align with the strategies of illiberal movements that undermine democracy:
• You criticize Europe for “censorship,” yet your administration embraces political retribution against journalists and dissenters.
• You claim to support national sovereignty, yet your government pressures allies to conform to U.S. policies without respecting their autonomy.
• You speak about “the voice of the people,” yet the U.S. political system increasingly suppresses votes through gerrymandering and legal barriers.
If democracy is truly your concern, then your own administration’s anti-democratic tendencies deserve equal scrutiny.
10. A Final Question: Why Has the U.S. Embraced Lies as a Political Strategy?
Mr. Vance, we must ask: Why has your administration adopted dishonesty as a deliberate strategy?
• Is it to divide Europe and weaken its position on the world stage?
• Is it to promote leaders who share your administration’s authoritarian leanings?
• Or is it because the U.S. government, under its current leadership, no longer believes in the power of truth?
And, more importantly, how do you justify this to your own children?
• Should they grow up believing that manipulation is acceptable in politics?
• Should they learn that honesty is secondary to political gain?
• Is this the future you envision for all American children?
If you truly stand for democracy and truth, it starts with facts—not distortions.
The German Bundestag
*Created with the assistance of artificial intelligence as an analytical evaluation and response to J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2025.-Jens Thieme (The Late Night Files Blog)
