U.S. Vice President JD Vance didn’t hold back, blasting Germany’s draconian speech laws as “Orwellian” and warning that this blatant attack on free expression could fracture U.S.-European relations.
His remarks came after a shocking “60 Minutes” interview with German prosecutors, who proudly admitted that publicly insulting someone—even online—is a crime. In fact, penalties are even harsher for internet-based offenses, as reposting or even liking a post deemed “offensive” can be considered a criminal act.
Vance wasted no time calling out the German government’s authoritarian stance, accusing them of criminalizing speech and silencing dissent. “This is lunacy,” he declared, urging Europeans to wake up and reject this attack on basic freedoms.
60 Minutes follows along with German police as they raid people’s houses for being racist online.
They’re transitioning from ignoring European laws against speech to glorifying them. pic.twitter.com/MAVj19PQyH
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) February 17, 2025
Germany’s crackdown has hit regular citizens the hardest, with an alarming number of prosecutions over social media posts criticizing politicians. One of the most outrageous cases involves Daniel Kindl, who was fined €1,800 for mocking a Green Party MP online. His supposed “crime”? Responding to a politician’s exaggerated claims with, “Cry quietly, you rag, this is just the beginning.” Kindl, refusing to bow to state intimidation, is fighting the charge in court.
But he’s far from alone. A pensioner was fined €800 for making a satirical joke about Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Another was arrested for retweeting a meme calling a Green Party minister an “idiot.” A woman in Bavaria faced a €6,000 fine for calling Baerbock a “hollow brat.” Even a 14-year-old boy had his home raided by police for posting the hashtag #AllesFürDeutschland (“All for Germany”). Meanwhile, a man was fined €5,000 for daring to criticize a judge who gave a slap-on-the-wrist sentence to a Syrian migrant convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl.
This isn’t about maintaining order—it’s state-sponsored censorship, pure and simple. A recent survey confirms the chilling effect: 74% of Germans now admit they self-censor, fearing government retribution. Unsurprisingly, younger generations and right-leaning citizens feel the most stifled.
Vance’s message couldn’t be clearer—if Europe continues down this road, it risks not just its own freedom but its relationship with the U.S. As Germany barrels toward full-blown speech control, Americans are watching.
