US Vice President J.D. Vance is criticising the United Kingdom for its “politics of self-hatred and the massive immigration” of migrants.
The Special Relationship is under strain, not least because of the brutal death of the student Henry Nowak, writes Breitbart News.
The war in Iran and the United States’ imposition of tariffs have also created tensions in relations between the two nations. The same applies to other important EU countries, such as France and Germany. Relations with the EU leadership in Brussels are likewise far from ideal.
On Friday evening, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempted to strike back against President Donald Trump’s administration, characterising statements from Washington as political interference and even an attempt to “create division in our streets”.
Addressing the theme of civilisational decline, Vice President Vance wrote of events in Britain:
Henry Nowak died in the same way that a civilisation dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared about him, and accused of hate crimes he had not committed.
His murder is as tragic as it is outrageous. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last generations of European elites had resisted the politics of self-hatred and the massive immigration of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the native peoples who love it.
Henry was far from the first to lose his life unnecessarily, and I fear he will not be the last.
Every time a life like his is lost, the proper response – the only response – is righteous anger… no one – no one – should ever die in the way Henry Nowak died. May God comfort those who loved him, and may God grant rest to his soul.
Britons furious – Thousands protest in Southampton after murder of Henry Nowak
Vance reminded readers that Trump has demonstrated that “stopping the flow of mass migration and defending national sovereignty” is entirely possible, and that “everything else is an excuse”.
“It is because we love the West that we want to preserve it. We love our civilisation. We love our country. We love our children.”
Vice President JD Vance Tells Britons Protesting Against Mass Migration ‘It’s OK to Want to Defend’ Your Countryhttps://t.co/qvMHtKpSvL
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 20, 2026
As the historian Arnold J. Toynbee wrote in his major work A Study of History: great civilisations do not perish because of external enemies or invasions, but because they lose their internal vitality and capacity for renewal.
Vance is not the only one reacting
The situation described by Toynbee bears a strong resemblance to contemporary Europe, which is likewise doing little to renew itself. Present-day Europe resembles the fall of the Roman Empire, for the Romans, too, invited their enemies in.
This is therefore nothing new, and is described by the historian Paul Kennedy in the excellent (albeit perhaps somewhat demanding) book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also urged Europe to tighten border controls and restrict immigration. He points out that dangerous ideologies are crossing the seas and flowing into Europe, comparing this with the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, which after all saved Europe from Nazi tyranny.
“Unfortunately, today other European shores are being stormed by other dangerous ideologies. On the beaches of Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and people are arriving,” Hegseth said at the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer.
“When will European capitals do something about that invasion, or is it too late? I pray that it is not, and I do not believe it is.” (NTB-Reuters)
Are we heading towards a new D-Day?
Today marks 82 years since D-Day in 1944, which was the beginning of the end of the Second World War. Many feel that Europe is now approaching a new war, both in our own streets and in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Vance was inspired by a statement from the US State Department on Thursday, which expressed concern about Henry Nowak’s death and the failure of the British state that it highlighted, a failure too great to ignore.
The statement described “ideological indoctrination and a two-tier policing system” as “clear signs of civilisational decline” in Britain. This development should be “rejected throughout the West”.
British authorities have reacted to these statements and have summoned the American ambassador. Starmer’s spokesman says that the United States is interfering in British democracy, writes The Sun.
“In recent days, we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and attempting to create division in our streets.
Our politics should bring people together, even in the most terrible circumstances. That is what defines us as a nation.”
The problem, however, is that division in England has not been so profound since the English Civil War, between 1642 and 1651.
There have been many divisions between Scotland, England, Ireland and particularly Northern Ireland. But what we are experiencing today concerns an internal division within England itself. A similar division between the authorities and the people can be observed in Ireland.
How much remains of British democracy is also a question many are asking in a nation that arrests around 12,000 people annually for inappropriate statements on social media.
The same applies across large parts of Europe, Norwegian politicians included. First they introduced Section 185, known as the hate-speech provision. Now they wish to go further by implementing the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Digital Services Act på vei til høring og innarbeidelse i norsk lov
A large proportion of ordinary Britons are probably most interested in reduced immigration, safety in the streets and schools, lower living costs, and fewer taxes and charges. The same may perhaps be true of ordinary Norwegians as well.