Last Updated:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparred with a journalist while discussing Vice President JD Vance’s combative speech in Munich, where he accused European allies of censoring free speech.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was lauded by Elon Musk for defending VP JD Vance’s Munich speech. (Reuters/File)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparred with an American journalist over US Vice President JD Vance’s speech on free speech in Europe at the Munich Security Conference, prompting a note of appreciation from the world’s richest man Elon Musk.
Rubio joined CBS host Margaret Brennan on ‘Face The Nation’ on Sunday, where the two argued over Vance’s blistering attack on European governments at the Munich conference for their alleged censorship of free speech and their political opponents.
During the interaction, Rubio – who is currently in Israel – praised Vance’s Munich speech as “historic”, The Hill reported. “I thought it was actually a pretty historic speech, whether you agree with him or not. I think the valid points he’s making to Europe is we are concerned that the true values that we share, the values that bind us together with Europe, are things like free speech and democracy and our shared history in winning two world wars.”
‘I Have To Disagree With You…’
At one point, Brennan pushed back on Rubio, arguing that Vance’s comments have been criticised because he was in Germany, a country with a controversial history where free speech “was weaponised to conduct a genocide”. She also highlighted that Vance also met far-right leader Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which she said had alleged ties to extremist groups.
Responding to Brennan’s remarks, Rubio said, “I have to disagree with you. 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.”
“There was no free speech in Nazi Germany. There was also no opposition in Nazi Germany. They were the sole and only party that governed the country. That’s not an accurate reflection of history,” he added. “The point of his (Vance) speech was basically that there is an erosion of free speech and tolerance for opposing points of view within Europe and that’s of concern because that’s an erosion of the values that bind us together.”
Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, hailed Rubio’s remarks on his X platform. “Well said, @SecRubio!” he said.
What Did Vance Say In Munich?
During his first speech at the Munich conference, Vance slammed European “commissars” for stifling free expression and charged that “across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat”.
The Vice President said the threat to Europe that worried him most was not Russia or China but what he called a retreat from fundamental values of protecting free speech – as well as immigration, which he said was “out of control” in Europe. “If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you,” Vance said.
Vance’s remarks garnered immense criticism in Europe, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius calling his comparison of Europe with authoritarian regimes “unacceptable”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also called his remarks “inappropriate” and said it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.
Trump also doubled down on Vance’s attack on traditional US allies. “I heard his speech. He talked about freedom of speech. And I think it’s true in Europe,” the president told reporters at the White House. “They’re losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech.
Furthermore, Vance met on Friday with the leader of AfD, after endorsing the party as a political partner — a stance Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference. Notably, Elon Musk had also endorsed the far-right party earlier, calling on Scholz to resign. The anti-immigration party is currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election.
(with agency inputs)
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
