“Don’t Apologize For Being White” – Vance Speech

Vice President JD Vance declared victory over the woke agenda at a major conservative gathering, announcing that Americans no longer need to “apologize for being white” as the Trump administration successfully dismantles DEI programs across the federal government.

Story Highlights

Vance proclaimed DEI has been “relegated to the dustbin of history” during his AmericaFest speech
Trump’s executive order terminated all federal DEI programs and targets private sector enforcement
Administration frames anti-DEI campaign as restoring merit-based opportunity and constitutional rights
Federal agencies now required to eliminate diversity mandates from contracts and grant programs

Vance Delivers Victory Speech at Conservative Youth Conference

Vice President JD Vance addressed thousands of conservative activists at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix on December 21, 2025, celebrating the Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Vance told the enthusiastic crowd that DEI belongs in the “dustbin of history” and declared that Americans “don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.” The remarks came during a broader victory lap highlighting the administration’s first-year accomplishments on immigration, economic policy, and cultural issues.

The Vice President connected the anti-DEI campaign to broader themes of merit and fairness, arguing that Americans should be judged “based on who they are, not on ethnicity and things they can’t control.” Vance specifically referenced Asian applicants in college admissions, linking the administration’s actions to concerns about reverse discrimination. His remarks drew sustained applause from the conservative audience, many of whom have long opposed what they view as discriminatory diversity programs.

Executive Order Dismantles Federal DEI Infrastructure

The celebration builds on President Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” which ordered federal agencies to terminate all DEI and DEIA policies deemed discriminatory. The comprehensive directive requires agencies to eliminate diversity mandates from federal programs and excise DEI references from government contracting, grants, and financial assistance procedures. Federal contractors and grant recipients must now certify they do not operate DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination law as interpreted by the administration.

The executive order goes beyond previous conservative efforts by targeting private sector DEI programs through strategic enforcement actions. The Department of Justice received instructions to prepare investigations targeting publicly traded corporations, large foundations with assets exceeding $500 million, universities with billion-dollar endowments, and professional associations. This represents the most aggressive federal challenge to diversity programs since the Civil Rights era, reversing decades of institutionalized equity initiatives across government and major institutions.

Administration Reframes Civil Rights Around Merit and Individual Achievement

Trump administration officials argue their anti-DEI campaign restores traditional civil rights principles by promoting “individual initiative, excellence, and hard work” over group-based preferences. The policy shift reverses Biden-era Executive Orders that required agencies to develop equity action plans and embed diversity considerations into federal budgeting and procurement. Conservative legal advocates view this as correcting unconstitutional discrimination that penalized qualified applicants based on race and ethnicity rather than merit.

The broader political strategy positions opposition to DEI as a unifying principle for the America First movement while addressing long-standing conservative grievances about reverse discrimination in education and employment. Vance emphasized this theme by calling for a “big tent” conservative coalition united against woke policies, rejecting internal purity tests while maintaining firm opposition to diversity mandates. Professional associations and higher education groups are already documenting compliance challenges as the systematic rollback continues across federal agencies and their partners.