In his debut foreign policy speech, VP JD Vance pushes for AI deregulation and U.S. supremacy, clashing with European allies over regulation and global cooperation.
- Deregulation Over Diplomacy: JD Vance’s debut foreign policy speech urged Europe to abandon “excessive regulation” of AI, framing U.S. dominance as non-negotiable while dismissing global safety concerns.
- Trump’s Shadow Looms Large: From threats to seize the Panama Canal to tariffs on allies, Trump’s unilateralist agenda shaped Vance’s message—and sparked backlash from European leaders.
- A Summit Divided: While the Paris AI Summit focused on democratic safeguards and sustainability, Vance’s “build first, worry later” mantra highlighted a stark transatlantic rift in priorities.
The Dawn of a Tech Juggernaut?
In his first major international address at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, U.S. Vice President JD Vance wasted no time channeling the combative ethos of the Trump administration. Declaring that “the AI future will be won by building, not hand-wringing,” Vance positioned America as the unrivaled leader in artificial intelligence—and issued a blunt warning to allies: adapt to Washington’s deregulatory vision or risk being left behind.
Deregulation as Doctrine
Vance’s speech centered on dismantling barriers to AI innovation, particularly targeting European efforts to rein in Big Tech. “Excessive regulation could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off,” he argued, dismissing the Biden-era focus on AI safety as overly cautious. He derided a 2022 speech by then-Vice President Kamala Harris on ethical AI as emblematic of a “risk-averse” mindset stifling progress. For Vance, the path forward hinges on a “level playing field” where startups and tech giants alike operate free from stringent oversight—a stance that drew applause from Silicon Valley but raised eyebrows among European regulators.
A Transatlantic Collision Course
The summit, co-hosted by France and India, had billed itself as a forum for “sustainable AI” and collective problem-solving. Yet Vance’s remarks clashed sharply with the event’s focus on combating disinformation and ensuring public-interest applications of AI. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a thinly veiled jab at Trump’s “Drill, baby, drill” energy policies, emphasized the need for climate-conscious tech investments, quipping, “Here, there’s no need to drill. It’s just plug, baby, plug.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, rebuked Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum, vowing they “will not go unanswered”—a tension left unaddressed during her brief meeting with Vance.
Trump’s ‘America First’ Playbook in Action
Vance’s speech was as much about ideology as it was about AI. Echoing Trump’s unilateralist strategies—from halting foreign aid to musing about annexing Canada—the Vice President framed international cooperation as conditional. “We don’t want to go it alone,” he conceded, but stressed that trust requires regulatory regimes favoring U.S. interests. This transactional approach was underscored by Trump’s last-minute tariff announcement, which cast a shadow over Vance’s diplomatic overtures. Even Vance’s pledge to support Ukraine during his upcoming Munich visit seemed at odds with Trump’s prior threats to abandon NATO allies over spending disputes.
A Heir Apparent? Not So Fast
Despite Vance’s high-profile role, Trump conspicuously declined to anoint him as his 2028 successor, calling him “very capable” but hedging, “It’s too early.” The remark hinted at internal GOP dynamics, where loyalty to Trump’s agenda trumps individual ambition. Yet Vance’s Paris performance—a blend of tech optimism and hard-nosed nationalism—solidified his role as a key messenger for Trump’s “jugger-naut” policymaking.
The Road Ahead: Munich and Beyond
As Vance heads to Munich to meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and address the Security Conference, the stakes are high. His challenge lies in reconciling Trump’s disruptive tactics with the realities of coalition-building—a task complicated by Trump’s own provocations. For European leaders, Vance’s visit underscores a sobering truth: in the Trump-Vance dynamic, partnerships are permissible, but submission is non-negotiable.
Innovation vs. Isolation
JD Vance’s Paris debut crystallized a defining tension of the Trump era: the push to dominate emerging industries while alienating allies crucial to global stability. Whether his “build first” philosophy will cement U.S. tech supremacy or fracture international cooperation remains uncertain. But one thing is clear—the Trump administration’s “America First” mantra leaves little room for compromise, even in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms.