The controversy began when Brennan said of Vance, "Well, he was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide, and 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. That the censorship was specifically about the right--"
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Rubio responded, "Well I have to disagree with you. No- I have- 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 and they hated those that they- they had a list of people they hated, but primarily the Jews."
"There was no free speech in Nazi Germany. There was none. There was also no opposition in Nazi Germany, they were a sole and only party that governed that country. So that's not an accurate reflection of history. I also think it's wrong- again, I go back to the point of his speech," the Trump official added. "The point of his speech was basically that there is an erosion in free speech and intolerance or opposing points of view within Europe, and that's of concern because that is eroding."
Vance chimed in on the interview on X, saying, "This is a crazy exchange. Does the media really think the holocaust was caused by free speech?"
Musk, the richest man in the world and a Trump appointee, also weighed in, saying, "One of the first things Hitler did upon gaining power was apply aggressive censorship."
Liberal commentator Brian Krassenstein even responded to Musk, saying, "Do you mean like kicking out media outlets from the oval office for their free speech? Like threatening politicians for giving advice to asylum seekers?"
Republican Senator Mike Lee also chimed in:
"America’s legacy news-media establishment: 'Everyone we don’t like is Hitler' 'Every policy we oppose was inspired by Nazis' Shouldn’t Americans be able to expect better 'news' than this?"
In a separate X post, Lee added, "In no way can it be said that in Nazi Germany 'free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide.' There was no free speech in Nazi Germany."
"Had there been, countless atrocities might have been averted. Shame on Margaret Brennan—not only for engaging in indefensible ad Hitlerum," he said.
Conservative columnist John Podhoretz said, "I'm glad Margaret Brennan blamed free speech for the rise of the Nazis. It's always a virtue when a person in a position of authority and influence who was elevated beyond her station reveals her ineptitude and folly--so that the world can see her clearly henceforth."
