While appearing on CBS’ Face The Nation over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed with host Margaret Brennan over the anchors claim that Nazi Germany “weaponized free speech.”
The fiery exchange occurred as the two discussed Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany last week; Vance criticized European allies for adopting a “soviet”-style approach to censorship — and Brennan implied free speech likely led to the Holocaust.
“Well, he was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide,” Brennan replied. “He met with the head of a political party that has far-right views and some historic ties to extreme groups. The context of that was changing the tone of it. And you know that.”
“Well, I have to disagree with you. No- I have- I have to disagree with you,” Rubio said as the pair talked over one another. “Free speech was not used to conduct a genocide. The genocide was conducted by an authoritarian Nazi regime that happened to also be genocidal because they hated Jews and they hated minorities, and they had a list of people they hated, but primarily the Jews.”
He added, “There was no free speech in Nazi Germany. There was none. There was also no opposition in Nazi Germany. They were the sole and only party that governed that country. So that’s not an accurate reflection of history.”
Social media had a field day, with many applauding Rubio’s pushback on Brennan’s ludicrous claim.
“Wow. Margaret Brennan ACTUALLY claims that the Holocaust happened because ‘free speech was weaponized’ in Nazi Germany. She’s incredibly dumb, a blatant Democrat propagandist or both. Doesn’t really matter which it is, @CBSNews should fire her over this,” conservative activist Robby Starbuck remarked.
Wow. Margaret Brennan ACTUALLY claims that the Holocaust happened because "free speech was weaponized" in Nazi Germany.
She’s incredibly dumb, a blatant Democrat propagandist or both. Doesn’t really matter which it is, @CBSNews should fire her over this. pic.twitter.com/O5qz6TRX8x
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 16, 2025
Radio host Erick Erickson commented, “Can we just talk about how a prominent American news anchor actually believes Nazi Germany had free speech and that supposed free speech is to blame for the Holocaust? That’s both deeply arrogant and deeply ignorant.”
Can we just talk about how a prominent American news anchor actually believes Nazi Germany had free speech and that supposed free speech is to blame for the Holocaust? That's both deeply arrogant and deeply ignorant. https://t.co/AUyWSdYxdU
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) February 16, 2025
“Margaret Brennan embarrasses herself again,” said conservative writer John Hasson.
Margaret Brennan embarrasses herself again
MB: “You’re standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to commit a genocide.”
Rubio: “Free speech was not weaponized to commit a genocide. The genocide was committed by an authoritarian Nazi regime.”pic.twitter.com/Yq8eji9YEa
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) February 16, 2025
“MARGARET BRENNAN HAS LOST HER DAMN MIND,” posted Citizen Free Press.
MARGARET BRENNAN HAS LOST HER DAMN MIND.
1) Brennan says the Holocaust was caused by Free Speech.
2) Marco Rubio shuts her down. This is embarrassing for CBS News.pic.twitter.com/fuvLD3sMiV
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 16, 2025
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