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Things took a more dramatic turn when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House. During an Oval Office meeting with President Trump, a reporter pressed Trump about Vance’s comments on Britain’s diminishing free speech rights.
Rather than deflect, Trump tossed the question directly to his vice president.
Without hesitation, Vance stood by his statement and doubled down, raising concerns about the British government’s latest attack on digital privacy. He pointed to recent moves forcing Apple to weaken encryption protections for iPhone users in the U.K.
“But we also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British,” Vance said. “Of course, what the British do in their own country is up to them, but also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens. So that is something that we’ll talk about today at lunch.”
His concerns are not unfounded. Under government pressure, Apple recently removed its Advanced Data Protection feature for U.K. users. According to the New York Post, “Advanced Data Protection, an optional feature that extends end-to-end encryption to a wide range of user data, is no longer available in the UK for new users and current UK users will eventually need to disable this security feature.”
What does this mean in real terms? The British government now has the power to spy on text messages—including those of Americans traveling in the country.
The New York Post further explained, “The loss of end-to-end encryption for iCloud backup means Apple would be able in some instances to read user data such as iMessages that would otherwise be protected and pass it on to authorities if legally compelled. In contrast, if a user has end-to-end encryption, Apple cannot read the data under any circumstances.”
The pressure was on for Starmer, who found himself publicly confronted in a way few world leaders expect inside the Oval Office. His response? A weak attempt at damage control.
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“We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom, and it will last for a very, very long time,” Starmer said.
Then, appearing flustered, he added, “Certainly, we wouldn’t want to reach across [and US citizens], and we don’t, and that’s absolutely right. But in relation to free speech in the UK, I’m really proud of that—our history there.”
His words fell flat.
Britons have watched their free speech erode under his leadership. Just last summer, British authorities arrested 30 citizens for merely criticizing Islam on social media. Meanwhile, Starmer’s approval rating continues to plummet, now sitting a staggering 40 points underwater.
Vance’s fearless approach marks a stark contrast to the diplomatic niceties usually expected in these meetings. Unlike the usual political doublespeak, he made it clear: America won’t stay silent while its allies trample on fundamental rights.
With the world watching, Vance didn’t just hold the line—he drew one.
