Edith Hejberg
US Vice President JD Vance is spending part of his summer break in Britain with his family, despite months of sharp remarks about the country.
His itinerary reportedly includes time in the Cotswolds and a trip to Hampton Court Palace. While in the UK, he’ll also meet Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House, a grand Kent estate with gardens, a lake, and even a maze.
The visit comes after a string of statements that ruffled political feathers on both sides of the Atlantic.
1. Dismissing the UK as ‘Some Random Country’
Shortly after taking office, Vance mocked the idea of deploying troops from Britain to Ukraine, describing it as “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.” Though he later denied singling out the UK, critics saw the comment as a pointed insult.
He argued instead for giving Americans an “economic upside” in Ukraine’s future as a better deterrent to Russian aggression.
2. Claiming the UK Could Be ‘First Islamist Country’ with Nukes
Speaking at a National Conservatism conference, Vance speculated the UK might become “the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon.” He made the remark while discussing nuclear proliferation risks, suggesting Labour’s recent election victory made the scenario more plausible.
The comment drew condemnation for its inflammatory tone and sweeping generalisation.
3. Warning ‘Free Speech Is in Retreat’
At February’s Munich Security Conference, Vance criticised Britain’s approach to free speech.
He highlighted the case of Adam Smith-Connor, a physiotherapist fined for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. “Not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own,” Vance said, framing it as an example of declining liberties across Europe.
4. Declaring ‘The Democratic Project of the West Is Falling Apart’
In an April interview with UnHerd, Vance accused European leaders of ignoring voters’ calls for tighter immigration controls.
He argued that failing to act on these demands undermines democracy itself. “People keep on asking for less migration,” he said, “and they keep on being rewarded… with more migration.” The warning applied to Britain as much as to the continent.
5. Branding Britain and Others as ‘Lazy’
At a meeting with tech executives in Washington, Vance criticised Western economies for relying on “cheap labour” from abroad.
He grouped Britain with other “lazy” countries, saying high immigration had stalled productivity growth. He suggested the correlation between imported labour and stagnation was “very direct.”
6. Predicting Europe’s ‘Civilizational Suicide’
During an appearance on Fox News’s Ingraham Angle, Vance accused European nations of failing to protect free speech and control borders.
While calling Europe the “cradle of western civilisation,” he warned it was “at risk of engaging in civilisational suicide.” The remark echoed his broader theme that the continent, including the UK, faces existential cultural challenges.
Diplomatic Meeting in Unlikely Company
Despite these barbed comments, Vance’s UK trip includes a high-profile meeting with David Lammy, a politician he’s often ideologically opposed to.
The encounter at Chevening will focus on US-UK relations, a sign that politics and diplomacy can still share the same table, even when the menu includes a side of pointed criticism.
