Rubio defends Vance's Munich speech as CBS host suggests 'free speech' caused the Holocaust
SUMMARY
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference after CBS host Margaret Brennan suggested that free speech contributed to the Holocaust. Vance had criticized European allies for adopting what he called a “Soviet”-style approach to censorship. On Face the Nation, Brennan asked what Vance’s speech accomplished “other than irritating our allies.” Rubio pushed back, arguing that democracies should welcome open debate. Brennan countered by claiming that Nazi Germany had “weaponized” free speech to enable genocide. Rubio strongly disagreed, stating that Nazi Germany was an authoritarian regime that suppressed opposition, not a society with free speech. Rubio reiterated Vance’s stance that European leaders should be able to engage with the U.S. despite disagreements.
