CBS News host Margaret Brennan has come under fire for comments she made during an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. During the segment on "Face the Nation," Brennan asserted that "free speech was weaponized" in connection with the Holocaust, a statement that sparked immediate backlash from various political figures and commentators.
The controversy arose while discussing Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech in Munich, where he criticized European leaders for what he perceives as their abandonment of core values, including free speech. Brennan’s remark drew a direct link between the concept of free speech and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, stating, "He was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide."
This assertion quickly prompted a wave of criticism on social media. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, for instance, labeled Brennan’s comment as "insanely stupid," while other prominent figures in media and politics echoed similar sentiments. Columnist John Podhoretz expressed his disbelief, noting the absurdity of blaming free speech for the rise of the Nazis and calling it a display of "ineptitude and folly."
Radio host Erick Erickson added to the chorus of disapproval, questioning how a respected news anchor could hold such a view, which he described as both "deeply arrogant and deeply ignorant." Other commentators, including journalist Andrew Kerr and Meghan McCain, also condemned Brennan’s remarks, with McCain suggesting that such statements disqualify her from hosting the program.
The backlash highlights the sensitivity surrounding discussions of the Holocaust and the role of free speech in society. Critics argue that equating free speech with the mechanisms of genocide undermines both the historical context of the Holocaust and the fundamental principles of free expression. As the debate continues, Brennan’s comments serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in discussing historical events and the responsibilities of media figures in framing such discussions accurately.