Kevin Roberts, who heads the Heritage Foundation that fashioned Project 2025 -- a 900-page wishlist for a second Trump White House term -- told reporters that conservatives had "never been more enthusiastic about the future."

"Everyday people are tired of elites telling them what to do," he said.

"They want their lives back, they want -- particularly in Europe -- they want their religious freedom back."

Roberts's comments came after US Vice President JD Vance launched a scathing attack against European leaders at a security conference in Munich, lambasting their policies on immigration, populist parties, and free speech, and criticizing their levels of defense spending.

"The opportunity is not just for us at Heritage, but for the American institutional right to be engaged in Europe," Roberts said.

- 'Reality check' -

Roberts said Vance's criticism of Europe's defense spending had been something of a "reality check" for leaders long used to American support.

"We can be great friends to any ally who wants to pull its own weight, which frankly too many European countries -- particularly the French and the Germans -- have not done," he said.

Trump, he said, "will be the greatest ally you could ever have in your imagination if your country pulls its weight. But if a country doesn't pull its weight, stop counting on America to save you."

Roberts also addressed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's calls for the United States to provide a "backstop" to guarantee the security of any British troops committed to a post-conflict peacekeeping missing in Ukraine.

"The United States is the backstop because we're a member of NATO," he said.

"It would be nice if other countries...actually put their money where their big mouth is."