Anne Applebaum

And speaking as a representative of the movement that brought us January the 6th and an attempt to overthrow US election, implying that he was more democratic and his movement was more democratic. And two aspects of this were offensive. One was the fact that he didn't address any of the real security issues.

And of course, the second, that he implied that the people he was speaking to were not Democrats. The import of his speech was to support the alliance for Germany. This is a political party called the AfD, which Germany is in the middle of very intense elections. Actually, the election is on February the 23rd, so very soon.

And of course, the second, that he implied that the people he was speaking to were not Democrats. The import of his speech was to support the alliance for Germany. This is a political party called the AfD, which Germany is in the middle of very intense elections. Actually, the election is on February the 23rd, so very soon.

And of course, the second, that he implied that the people he was speaking to were not Democrats. The import of his speech was to support the alliance for Germany. This is a political party called the AfD, which Germany is in the middle of very intense elections. Actually, the election is on February the 23rd, so very soon.

The AFD is a far-right party, some of whose members have expressed nostalgia or nuanced admiration for aspects of Nazi Germany. It's also a party that has been notably pro-Russian and anti-American in the past, and that he was expressing support for them was perceived by many of the Germans in the room as an insult.

The AFD is a far-right party, some of whose members have expressed nostalgia or nuanced admiration for aspects of Nazi Germany. It's also a party that has been notably pro-Russian and anti-American in the past, and that he was expressing support for them was perceived by many of the Germans in the room as an insult.

The AFD is a far-right party, some of whose members have expressed nostalgia or nuanced admiration for aspects of Nazi Germany. It's also a party that has been notably pro-Russian and anti-American in the past, and that he was expressing support for them was perceived by many of the Germans in the room as an insult.

Yes. But to be clear, the far right party has access to television. Its leader has been on television debates. It's on the ballot. Isn't it number two in the polls? It's number two in the polls. I mean, stipulate there are a number of parties in Germany. So it looks at the moment around 20 percent. But it is absolutely accessible. You can vote for it.

Yes. But to be clear, the far right party has access to television. Its leader has been on television debates. It's on the ballot. Isn't it number two in the polls? It's number two in the polls. I mean, stipulate there are a number of parties in Germany. So it looks at the moment around 20 percent. But it is absolutely accessible. You can vote for it.

Yes. But to be clear, the far right party has access to television. Its leader has been on television debates. It's on the ballot. Isn't it number two in the polls? It's number two in the polls. I mean, stipulate there are a number of parties in Germany. So it looks at the moment around 20 percent. But it is absolutely accessible. You can vote for it.

The idea that it's somehow repressed is a figment of J.D. Vance's imagination. Right. So here's J.D.

The idea that it's somehow repressed is a figment of J.D. Vance's imagination. Right. So here's J.D.

The idea that it's somehow repressed is a figment of J.D. Vance's imagination. Right. So here's J.D.

It was an insult. He was telling Europeans that he doesn't respect their voting systems, but also he was playing with language. Again, he represents the political movement that sought to overturn an election. So this is a political movement that cares about the people and the voters only when they win.

It was an insult. He was telling Europeans that he doesn't respect their voting systems, but also he was playing with language. Again, he represents the political movement that sought to overturn an election. So this is a political movement that cares about the people and the voters only when they win.

It was an insult. He was telling Europeans that he doesn't respect their voting systems, but also he was playing with language. Again, he represents the political movement that sought to overturn an election. So this is a political movement that cares about the people and the voters only when they win.

Nevertheless, he was accusing Europeans of somehow not caring about their own voters when their political systems are in many cases more democratic and more grassroots based than ours. These are most of most European countries have multiple political parties. People have more choice in elections. You know, they're smaller countries.

Nevertheless, he was accusing Europeans of somehow not caring about their own voters when their political systems are in many cases more democratic and more grassroots based than ours. These are most of most European countries have multiple political parties. People have more choice in elections. You know, they're smaller countries.

Nevertheless, he was accusing Europeans of somehow not caring about their own voters when their political systems are in many cases more democratic and more grassroots based than ours. These are most of most European countries have multiple political parties. People have more choice in elections. You know, they're smaller countries.

People have more direct impact on their national governments when they vote. So the idea that J.D. Vance was somehow implying that America is more democratic was insulting. And it was it was understood that way. And as I said, it was also in a speech where he was expected to talk about European security armies and the war in Ukraine, none of which he mentioned, or if so, only glancingly.