CBS News host Margaret Brennan faced intense backlash on Sunday after she claimed during an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that “free speech was weaponized” to cause the Holocaust.
Brennan made the comment during an interview on “Face the Nation” while talking about Vice President JD Vance’s speech to European leaders last week in which he called them out for abandoning values like free speech.
“He was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide,” Brennan said while talking about Vance’s speech in Munich, Germany.
Brennan was met with instant pushback online over her claim, including from top elected leaders.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) posted on X: “Free speech caused the Holocaust is an insanely stupid take.”
PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE! 40% Off DailyWire+ Annual Memberships With Code DW40
“I’m glad Margaret Brennan blamed free speech for the rise of the Nazis,” said columnist John Podhoretz. “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.”
“This bonkers,” said Red State writer Bonchie. “Like pull her off the air bonkers.”
WATCH:
This is the first time I’ve heard the theory that the Holocaust wasn’t conducted with gas chambers but with free speech zones. pic.twitter.com/mpWm6UH2F4
— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) February 16, 2025
Radio host Erick Erickson posted on X: “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.”
Columnist Karol Markowicz posted on X: “It’s wild that this is how far the left has fallen. Free speech caused the Holocaust, you guys.”
“This is absolute lunacy from Margaret Brennan,” wrote journalist Andrew Kerr.
“I legitimately don’t know how ignorant you have to be to claim the holocaust happened as a result of free speech,” said Meghan McCain. “This woman doesn’t deserve to host this show and Republicans should stop rewarding this s*** by going on it.”
