In the remarks to the Munich Security Conference U.S. Vice President JD Vance lectured European officials on free speech and illegal migration on the continent, warning elected officials that they risk losing public support if they don’t quickly change course, writes AP NEWS.

“The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia. It’s not China. It’s not any other external actor”, - Vance said. “What I worry about is the threat from within - the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America”.

He warned European officials: “If you’re running in fear of your own voters there’s nothing America can do for you”.

Vance’s speech, and his passing mention of the 3-year-old war in Ukraine, came at a time of intense concern and uncertainty over the Trump administration’s foreign policy.

“In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. And under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square”, - Vance said to tepid applause.

The vice president also warned the European officials against illegal migration, saying that the electorate didn’t vote to open “floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants” and referencing an attack Thursday in Munich where the suspect is a 24-year-old Afghan who arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2016.