Senator Marco Rubio engaged in a spirited exchange with CBS host Margaret Brennan, defending Vice President JD Vance's recent remarks on European censorship. Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, had criticized what he perceived as a "Soviet-style" approach to censorship among European allies.
Brennan questioned the purpose of Vance's comments, suggesting they served only to antagonize allies. Rubio countered, emphasizing the importance of free speech in democratic societies and arguing that expressing opinions, even critical ones, should be expected and accepted. He asserted that if Vance's words caused anger, it only validated his point about censorship concerns.
The discussion became particularly heated when Brennan brought up the Holocaust, suggesting that free speech had been "weaponized" in Nazi Germany. Rubio firmly rejected this comparison, stating unequivocally that free speech did not cause the genocide. He pointed out that Nazi Germany was an authoritarian regime that suppressed dissent and systematically persecuted minorities, primarily Jews. He emphasized the absence of free speech and opposition under Nazi rule, highlighting the historical inaccuracy of Brennan's claim.
Rubio reiterated Vance's argument that European leaders should be open to criticism from the U.S. and other allies. He underscored the importance of maintaining working relationships despite differing viewpoints. The segment concluded with Rubio reinforcing the value of open dialogue and the ability to express dissent within democratic alliances.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims from a CBS host that "free speech" caused the holocaust. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)
CBS Host Margaret Brennan claimed that Nazis had "weaponized" free speech "to conduct a genocide" in Germany. (CBS News screenshot)
Vice President JD Vance rebuked European allies for their penchant for censorship last week. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
