I really believe that we are close to peace in Europe, for the first time in three years, says Vance as he gives the opening speech at the conference, according to the media.
Vance and other representatives of the Trump administration have shocked Europe in the past week with statements that NATO membership for Ukraine is not currently relevant and that a return to the country's borders from before 2014 is "unrealistic". They have also initiated a dialogue with Russia about Ukraine, which Kyiv and Europe in general seem to be excluded from.
Gets Applause
Crisis meetings are now being held in Europe, but among the audience at the CPAC conference, the enthusiasm is massive. And Vance defends the line, including his boss's criticized phone calls with Russia's Vladimir Putin and Trump's baseless claims that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is a "dictator".
I get standing ovations for a speech I've already given. Two for the price of one, said Vance good-naturedly about the reception at home, according to Politico.
He then went on to praise President Donald Trump's policy in general – including crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and the extensive cuts in the government apparatus that are underway.
Trump himself is expected to appear at the meeting in Maryland on Saturday. CPAC has in recent years come to be characterized by Maga (Make America Great Again, Trump's agenda) and the president has won the last few years' polls on who the participants want to see as the country's future leader.
Got a Saw
A few hours after Vance's speech, the stage was taken over by Tesla and Space X founder Elon Musk. He leads Trump's controversial White House initiative Doge (Department of Government Efficiency) which works with government efficiency and savings.
To the audience's jubilation, Musk received a chainsaw from Argentina's President Javier Milei, who is also participating in the conference. During ultralibertarian Milei's campaign, the chainsaw became a symbol of the drastic cuts he promised in the government apparatus.
We're trying to do good things. But, you know, we're trying to have fun when we do it... And a little humor, said Musk after showing off his saw about the extensive cuts he has initiated.
CPAC, Conservative Political Action Conference, brings together politicians, financiers, thinkers, and media personalities from the political right.
