During Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria admitted that Vice President J.D. Vance is “basically right” about Europe’s shortcomings in free speech protections.
Vance had sparked controversy among European leaders last month when he raised concerns about free speech restrictions across the continent. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the vice president cited several Orwellian “hate speech” laws that have been used to imprison hundreds for political views or expressions considered “offensive” by those in power.
“I look to Brussels, where E.U. commissars warn that they intend to shut down social media during times of civil unrest the moment what they spot to be ‘hateful content,’” said Vance before turning his attention to host country Germany.
“Or to this very country, where police have carried out raids against citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online as part of ‘combatting misogyny on the internet,’ a day of action,” he added.
Vance ended his speech by stating that the lack of free speech in Europe poses the greatest current threat to the continent, warning that the erosion of this key Western value could strain U.S.-European relations.
During a show segment, Maher told his guest panelists that he agreed with Vance’s comments on the importance of free speech, though he did say he was stunned by the vice president’s remarks about Germany’s election.
At that point, Zakaria chimed in.
“So, I agree with you on the — that part of Vance’s speech, he’s basically right. It’s important to remember, European countries have never had the First Amendment-type protections that we have,” the CNN host said.
“Europe has always had a more regulated speech. As a journalist, I know it’s always easier to get sued in Britain, because, again, we have an amazing set of protections with the First Amendment. And the Germans have a particular history, you’re right, for example, Holocaust denial, which is allowed in the U.S., anyone can say whatever they want, it’s illegal in Germany because they are sensitive to the Nazi past,” he added.
After that admission, however, the left-wing Zakaria attacked other parts of Vance’s speech as “offensive” to him and to some Europeans.
WATCH:
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria begrudgingly admits in “Real Time” with Bill Maher that Vice President Vance’s claims that free speech is dying in Europe is correct. pic.twitter.com/KyqoeMJbxx
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) March 2, 2025
The vice president also chastised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the latter’s White House visit on Friday after the meeting with President Donald Trump grew argumentative and tense.
At one point, Trump wagged his finger at the Ukrainian leader, who was seated right next to him, and told him he had to “be thankful” after the U.S. during the Biden administration poured tens of billions in money and military assistance into the war-torn country following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this,” Trump said, before Vance broke in.
“You can say ‘thank you’ –” he began before Zelensky interrupted and said he had thanked “the American people” many times in the past for their help.
“You can accept that there are disagreements,” Vance continued, “and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong. We know you’re wrong.”
Then it was Trump’s turn.
NOW – Trump to Zelensky in the Oval Office: “It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this.”pic.twitter.com/1xbAPiP4Yt
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 28, 2025
“But you see, I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on,” he began. “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers –” he continued as Zelensky continued trying to interrupt.
“No, listen,” Trump went on. “The you tell us, ‘I don’t want a cease fire. I don’t want a cease fire.’ Look — if you could get a cease-fire right now, I tell ya you’d take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”
“Of course I want to stop the war,” Zelensky countered. “But I said to you with guarantees.”