BERLIN (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance has criticized Germany’s free speech laws during an appearance at a conservative gathering outside Washington, linking the country’s limits against hate speech to American troops stationed there.

US Vice President JD Vance has slammed Germany’s free speech laws, linking them to the US military presence in the country. Speaking at CPAC, he questioned why American taxpayers should support Germany if its citizens could be jailed for online speech.

New data shows German voters are torn over comments regarding free speech by US Vice President JD Vance. At the Munich Security Conference last week, Mr Vance delivered a provocative speech that criticised European governments for allegedly censoring free speech,