Trump puts Vance to tough diplomatic test at Paris AI summit, Munich Security Conference

As Vice President JD Vance meets world leaders on his first foreign trip, his diplomatic debut at the AI Action Summit in Paris highlights his influence and key position he holds in the Trump administration and in shaping his international agenda As Paris prepares to take centre stage on February 10-11, 2025, welcoming world leaders, policymakers, industry pioneers, researchers, academics, NGOs and artists for the AI Action Summit, one figure in particular commands global attention—a bestselling author, Yale law graduate and rising star in US politics: Vice President JD Vance. Vice President Vance made his debut foreign visit in this role, travelling first to Paris before proceeding to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Vice presidents have often played important diplomatic roles in the past—Richard Nixon’s 1959 visit to the Soviet Union, George HW Bush’s international engagements and Joe Biden’s extensive foreign diplomacy efforts all set examples. Almost complete autonomy Vice President Vance has been granted an unusual level of autonomy within the White House, allowing him to make staffing decisions without any interference from President Trump or his senior aides.