Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday after five Western governments imposed sanctions on them for “extremist rhetoric.”
The countries sanctioning the two Israeli cabinet members include Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia. They released <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-ministers-joint-statement-on-measures-targeting-itamar-ben-gvir-and-bezalel-smotrich">a joint statement</a> claiming the officials had “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights” in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank.
“These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war,” Rubio <a href="https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1932536569107525916">said in a statement</a>. “We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace.”
Rubio added that the United States “urges the reversal of the sanctions” and “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/donald-trump-has-a-recommendation-for-greta-thunberg-after-her-selfie-flotilla?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Donald+Trump+Has+A+Recommendation+For+Greta+Thunberg+After+Her+%E2%80%98Selfie+Flotilla%E2%80%99">DONALD TRUMP HAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR GRETA THUNBERG AFTER HER ‘SELFIE FLOTILLA’</a>
The sanctions reportedly include travel bans and asset freezes, though the ministers are not known to have any assets in those countries.
In the five countries’ statement, they claim that the situation in Judea and Samaria cannot be viewed separately from “the catastrophe” in Gaza. They added that they are &#8220;appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid” and that they oppose “unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank” or any reduction of the territory of the Gaza Strip.
The countries accuse Ben-Gvir and Smotrich of “extremist rhetoric” including allegedly advocating for the “forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements.”
Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are the Israeli boogeymen to the Israeli Left and Western media due to their extremely nationalistic and hawkish right-wing views, including for the expansion of settlements in Judea and Samaria and support for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-announces-plans-to-create-an-emigration-administration-to-relocate-gazans">relocating Gazans</a> from the Gaza Strip.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/christian-pro-israel-conference-cancels-after-overwhelming-number-of-credible-terror-threats?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Christian+Pro-Israel+Conference+Cancels+After+%E2%80%98Overwhelming%E2%80%99+Number+Of+Credible+Terror+Threats">CHRISTIAN PRO-ISRAEL CONFERENCE CANCELS AFTER ‘OVERWHELMING’ NUMBER OF CREDIBLE TERROR THREATS</a>
Smotrich responded <a href="https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1932419325865889825">in a speech</a> on Tuesday while he was inaugurating the new Israeli settlement “Mitzpe Ziv” in the Hebron Hills.
“I heard that Britain had decided to impose sanctions on me for obstructing the establishment of the Palestinian state,” he said. “The timing couldn&#8217;t be better.”
He added that Britain has already once attempted to prevent Jews from “settling in the cradle of our homeland” and that “we are determined to continue building.”
In the five countries’ statement, they repeatedly mention the two-state solution, a plan for both an Israeli and Palestinian state, claiming that it is “extremist rhetoric” to reject such a plan.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Huckabee said that the United States no longer backs the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, in an interview with Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-10/us-holds-deep-doubts-about-palestinian-state-ambassador-says">published Tuesday</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
Ben-Gvir also responded to the sanctions on Tuesday, claiming that these countries are attacking Israel while they have their own internal issues to worry about.
“While the European colonial countries fantasize that we Jews are still their subjects, the streets of their famous cities are being taken over by radical Islam,” <a href="https://x.com/itamarbengvir/status/1932455261756653815">he wrote</a>. “But their campaign of appeasement for the Hamas terrorists will not save them. When they finally wake up, it will be too late!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Moments after being protested by a bottle-throwing crowd near Yale University, Itamar Ben-Gvir sat down with me to discuss the stark contrast between his VIP treatment at Mar-a-Lago and the hostile reception from anti-Israel students.
Here’s what he said: <a href="https://t.co/KoNVqyP66W">pic.twitter.com/KoNVqyP66W</a>
&mdash; Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1915885745954558377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In April, protesters near Yale University <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-israels-national-security-minister-responds-to-bottle-throwing-yale-crowd">hurled bottles</a> at Ben-Gvir during his trip to the United States, just a day after he was welcomed by applause from a crowd filled with Trump allies and members of Congress at Mar-a-Lago. He told The Daily Wire that the reception likely wouldn’t have happened if President Donald Trump had lost because he was detested by the Biden administration.
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“It would have been likely that they would not admit me and here I am today, from a situation where I was a persona-non-grata, to a situation where I am being loved,” he said. “I enter their room and there is an applause for what I say, on our ideas, on our world view, on the fact that I want a big and strong state of Israel.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that the government will call a special meeting next week to determine how to respond to the “outrageous, unacceptable decision” by the five Western governments, <a href="https://www.jns.org/london-to-sanction-ben-gvir-smotrich-over-anti-hamas-comments/">Jewish News Syndicate reported</a>.
“It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures,” Sa’ar stated.

Ben-Gvir Smotrich and Rubio

Rubio Defends Israeli Officials After 5 Western Governments Sanction Them For ‘Extremist Rhetoric’

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The United States announced that it will sanction four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its &#8220;illegitimate actions” targeting both the United States and Israel.
The move comes after the court investigated American personnel in Afghanistan and issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“These individuals directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without consent from the United States or Israel,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/06/imposing-sanctions-in-response-to-the-iccs-illegitimate-actions-targeting-the-united-states-and-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the International Criminal Court.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
The judges being sanctioned are Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, both serving in the ICC Appeals Division, as well as Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, who serve in the ICC Pre-Trial and Trial Division.
Bossa and Ibanez Carranza ruled to authorize the ICC’s investigation against American personnel in Afghanistan and Alapini Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize the issuance of the ICC’s arrest warrants targeting Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, according to the State Department.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-says-prepared-deal-with-greta-thunbergs-flotilla-en-route-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=IDF+Says+It%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Prepared%E2%80%99+To+Deal+With+Greta+Thunberg%E2%80%99s+Flotilla+En+Route+To+Gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IDF SAYS IT’S ‘PREPARED’ TO DEAL WITH GRETA THUNBERG’S FLOTILLA EN ROUTE TO GAZA</a>
“The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies,” Rubio added. “This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel.”
The sanctions were authorized by President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-sanctions-on-the-international-criminal-court/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Executive Order 14203</a>, issued in February, which allows sanctions on foreigners engaged in ICC efforts to “impose tangible and significant consequences on those directly engaged in the ICC’s transgressions against the United States and Israel.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-recovers-bodies-of-two-american-hostages-in-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IDF RECOVERS BODIES OF TWO AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN GAZA</a>
“The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC,” Rubio said.
Rubio concluded with a call for countries that support the ICC to “fight this disgraceful attack” on the United States and Israel, adding that many of the countries’ “freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices.”
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The sanctions require that all U.S.-based property and assets belonging to the judges be frozen and reported to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Any businesses or entities that are at least 50% owned by the sanctioned individuals are also blocked under the sanctions.
American citizens will also be prohibited from contributing funds, goods, or services for the benefit of any of the sanctioned individuals.

UAE and Bahrain’s normalization deal with Israel

Trump Administration Sanctions ICC Judges For Targeting The United States And Israel

International Criminal Court

Trump Administration

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the State Department would start to “aggressively” revoke the visas of Chinese students. 
Rubio said that the revocations would focus on those with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in “critical fields.” Rubio’s actions come after he froze all new student visa interviews pending the development of new admittance guidelines. 
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio announced in a statement. “We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”
There are roughly 275,000 Chinese students studying in the United States. 
Chinese theft of American intellectual property has been a problem for years, and several Chinese students have been charged and convicted of espionage. 
In 2020, a Chinese woman studying at Boston University named Yanqing Ye <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/fbi-wanted-yanqing-ye-china/">fled</a> the country after being accused of working for China while studying chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering. According to the FBI, Ye was a lieutenant in the Chinese military but did not disclose that when she applied for a student visa. She reportedly gathered intelligence on two American scientists. 
In another <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/convicted-ex-chicago-illinois-institute-technology-college-student-chaoqun-ji-part-us-china-spy-swap/15596442/">incident</a>, a Chinese student named Chaoqun Ji, who was attending the Illinois Institute of Technology, was convicted in 2023 of acting as an unregistered agent for China after gathering information on defense contractors. 
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The targeting of Chinese student visas comes as the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-freezes-all-new-student-visa-interviews-in-major-blow-to-elite-universities?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Admin+Freezes+All+New+Student+Visa+Interviews+In+Major+Blow+To+Elite+Universities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has increased vetting</a> for what foreign students are allowed into the country. On Tuesday, Rubio signed a cable directing U.S. embassies to “not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued … which we anticipate in the coming days.”
The pause affects all applicants for student visas while the administration reportedly prepares guidance for expanded social media vetting requirements.
Rubio also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-announces-new-visa-restrictions-for-foreigners-who-censor-americans?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Announces+New+Visa+Restrictions+For+Foreigners+Who+Censor+Americans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took steps</a> on Wednesday to implement new visa restrictions targeting foreigners “complicit” in censoring Americans.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States,” Rubio said. “It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/group-trying-to-convince-asians-that-america-is-oppressive-has-ties-to-chinese-state-media">Group Trying To Convince Asians That America Is Oppressive Has Ties To Chinese State Media</a>

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies on the 2026 Budget In House Hearing

Rubio Promises To ‘Aggressively’ Target Students Tied To Chinese Communist Party

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On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration would implement new visa restrictions targeting foreigners “complicit” in censoring Americans.
“Even as we take action to reject censorship at home, we see troubling instances of foreign governments and foreign officials picking up the slack,” Rubio <a href="https://www.state.gov/announcement-of-a-visa-restriction-policy-targeting-foreign-nationals-who-censor-americans/">stated</a>. “In some instances, foreign officials have taken flagrant censorship actions against U.S. tech companies and U.S. citizens and residents when they have no authority to do so.”
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States,” he continued. “It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.  It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States.  We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty, especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech.”
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“Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country,” Rubio wrote on X. “Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1927729604598342023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On Tuesday, Rubio issued a cable to U.S. embassies and consulates stating that the State Department would temporarily stop interviews abroad with foreign citizens applying for student and exchange visas. “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel (separate telegram) which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-team-orders-stop-to-new-student-visa-interviews-as-it-weighs-expanding-social-media-vetting-00370501">stated</a>, per POLITICO.

Passport on the desk of an American businessman

Rubio Announces New Visa Restrictions For Foreigners Who Censor Americans

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In a fiery defense of Israel and the Jewish people, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the constant attempts by different empires and groups throughout history to wipe out Jews, then declared, “There can be no compromise with antisemitism. There can be no nuanced separation of hatred of Israel and hatred of the Jewish people.”
Rubio made the remarks in a pre-recorded video shown on Wednesday at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Minister’s Conference in Jerusalem.
“Golda Meir once said, ‘It took Moses 40 years to find the only place in the Middle East with no oil,&#8217;” Rubio began. “But Israel‘s wealth lay not under the ground, but in its people; the Jewish people: exiles, pilgrims and dreamers from around the world who made the desert bloom into a high-tech superpower.”
“Israel accomplished this miracle, not by abandoning history and identity, but by embracing it,” he continued. “Sadly, some of Israel’s neighbors have failed to appreciate how following Israel’s example could have brought prosperity to the region. Instead, they chose war. They decided to impoverish their people in a futile effort to destroy Israel. They succeeded in the former while failing in the latter.”
Rubio turned to history: “Antisemitism is the world’s oldest bigotry, and given that we are all here today, it is also the world’s most futile. Egyptian pharaohs, Roman emperors. Persian shahs and Middle Eastern despots have sought to destroy the nation of Israel. Adolf Hitler dreamed of a world without Jews; an idea he shares with Hamas. Today, these regimes and empires have crumbled into dust, but Israel stands, and the Jewish people prosper.”
Then he segued to the future: “I pray for the day when the entire world will recognize the futility of antisemitism; when leaders will abandon self-destructive hatred and forge a new future and partnership with Israel by building on the Abraham Accords. Under President Trump‘s leadership, there are signs that the future may be closer than we dared dream, but only if we can overcome the futile persistent evil of antisemitism, can we reach that future.”
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Rubio spoke of the young couple who worked at the Israeli Embassy who were murdered in cold blood at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. on May 21 by a Palestinian supporter:
<blockquote>
Earlier this year I stood beside Foreign Minister Sa’ar at the Yad Vashem memorial. I remembered the millions of Jews who were slaughtered, and reflected on the meaning of the words, “Never again.” The importance of those words were brought home to every American last week when Yaron Lischinski and Sarah Milgrim were murdered in cold blood outside of the Capital Jewish museum here in Washington D.C. Yaron was a Christian, born in Germany, who came to love the Jewish state. Sarah was from Kansas and loved Yaron. They  dreamed of marrying in Jerusalem; instead they were cut down in cold blood by a monster who did not care about Yaron’s faith or Sarah‘s background. We should never forget that as he was being arrested after killing two innocents, who he believed were Jews, the murderer proudly screamed, “Free, free Palestine,” words that serve as a battle cry for the death of Jews, the destruction of Israel and the horrors we must never again allow.
</blockquote>
“There can be no compromise with antisemitism,” he said bluntly. “There can be no nuanced separation of hatred of Israel and hatred of the Jewish people. Those who called to boycott Israel are calling for the boycott of their Jewish neighbors and classmates. Those who call for violence against Israelis are calling for violence against Jews. Those who call for the destruction of Israel are calling for the destruction of the Jewish people. That is why as we extend our prayers to Yaron and Sarah‘s loved ones we must stand in solidarity with Israel. There can be no coexistence with evil. There can be no nuance to hatred.”
“Under President Trump the United States will stand with the Jewish people,” he declared. “We have implemented a vigorous new visa policy that will prevent foreign nationals from coming to the United States to foment hatred against our Jewish community. We are holding international organizations and nations accountable for rhetoric against Israel that resurfaces in the manifesto of monsters like Yaron and Sarah‘s killer.”
He concluded triumphantly: “But we do see an eventual light at the end of this long tunnel of suffering. One can imagine the Middle East in which the Abraham Accords eventually reign.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In his remarks to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (<a href="https://twitter.com/TheIHRA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheIHRA</a>) Minister’s Conference currently being held in Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> thanked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar <a href="https://twitter.com/gidonsaar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gidonsaar</a> for the invitation and expressed regret for not… <a href="https://t.co/aaZbCIaFZN">pic.twitter.com/aaZbCIaFZN</a>
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelMFA/status/1927697520924168419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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‘There Can Be No Coexistence With Evil’: Rubio Gives Fiery Defense Of Israel And The Jewish People

antisemitism

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call to shut down the Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) and consolidate its operations into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is a timely and welcome move that restores clarity and coherence to American diplomacy in the region. The decision not only aligns with U.S. law and longstanding policy, but also reflects a realistic appraisal of the current geopolitical landscape.
The OPA operated as a quasi-independent diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority, with its head reporting directly to the State Department rather than to the U.S. Ambassador in Jerusalem. Its presence in the heart of Jerusalem, separate from the embassy, created confusion about America’s stance on the city’s status and appeared to circumvent both Israeli sovereignty and the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and directs that the U.S. embassy be located there.
This arrangement wasn’t new. The Trump administration closed the OPA in 2019 for precisely these reasons, merging its responsibilities into the newly established U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. That decision was consistent with President Trump’s broader effort to reshape American policy in the Middle East by acknowledging geopolitical realities rather than clinging to outdated diplomatic frameworks.
When the Biden administration reopened the OPA in 2022, it reignited controversy. The move was met with strong opposition from Israel, which declined to grant the office formal diplomatic status. The OPA resumed operations nonetheless, conducting outreach to the Palestinian Authority while sidestepping coordination with the embassy. In one notable instance, the office called for Israeli “restraint” in its response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, just a day after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Such unilateral statements only deepened concerns about the office’s role and legitimacy.
Moreover, the OPA’s treatment of American citizens — particularly dual Israeli-American nationals — raised serious questions. Reports that such individuals were denied consular services through the OPA, and instead redirected to other diplomatic channels, suggested a politicized approach to basic diplomatic duties.
If the United States wishes to maintain constructive relations with the Palestinian people, those efforts should be directed either through the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem or through a diplomatic office in Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is based. The OPA’s placement in Jerusalem signaled an unresolved stance on the city’s status — a stance that contradicts both American law and policy.
Secretary Rubio’s proposal to close the OPA and fold its functions into the existing embassy structure is a common-sense step that reflects the reality on the ground. It reinforces the U.S.–Israel alliance, upholds American law, and eliminates a source of unnecessary diplomatic friction. It also brings U.S. policy in line with a broader strategic vision — one that prioritizes stability, mutual recognition, and pragmatic engagement over symbolic gestures.
The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP), among others, has long called for this change. Their conversations with members of Congress and the administration emphasized not only the legal inconsistencies of the OPA but also its potential to undermine both Israeli sovereignty and American credibility in the region.
Going forward, additional policy adjustments should follow this logic. Suspending aid and even shutting down UNRWA, reviewing funding for UNESCO and other UN agencies that undermine Israel’s sovereignty, and supporting Israel’s development efforts in Jerusalem are all aligned with a coherent and values-driven U.S. foreign policy. These steps reinforce not only America’s partnership with Israel but also its broader interest in a secure and stable Middle East.
Secretary Rubio’s leadership on this issue marks a step toward restoring diplomatic focus and credibility. In a region long burdened by ambiguity and contradiction, such clarity is both overdue and necessary.
* * *
Chaim Silberstein is the Founder and President of the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP.ngo), where Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq. serves as Senior Research Associate.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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President Trump Holds National Day of Prayer Event In Rose Garden

Rubio’s Closure Of Palestinian Affairs Office Marks A Needed Return To Diplomatic Clarity

Rubio's Closure Of Palestinian Affairs Office Marks A Needed Return To Diplomatic Clarity

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WASHINGTON—A group of senior State Department officials will head to France and Ireland this week to push both countries to respect citizens’ rights, The Daily Wire has learned.
The trip is part of a State Department effort to fight &#8220;egregious examples of democratic backsliding&#8221; and &#8220;violations of basic natural rights&#8221; in Europe, a senior State Department official shared with The Daily Wire. The initiative, launched by the department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, is especially focused on defending freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy.
The countries in question “claim to be bastions of democracy,&#8221; the senior State Department official explained, &#8220;they&#8217;re so-called liberal democracies that preach inclusivity and tolerance and progress, and the reality on the ground just simply shows that isn&#8217;t the case.&#8221;
In France, the State Department delegation will meet with government officials to discuss the recent arrest of French politician Marine Le Pen. In Ireland, their discussion will focus on concerns that a new European Union law could be used to censor free speech.
Under President Donald Trump, the State Department is working to push American allies to respect the rights of their citizens and the rights of American citizens. Foggy Bottom sees trips like this as opportunities to battle the global political apparatus that has been weaponized against both European and American people, an apparatus that wants to silence individuals who stand up for traditional values like faith, freedom, and family.
As Vice President JD Vance highlighted at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration sees real threats facing its allies in Europe &#8220;from within&#8221; — particularly cases of governments targeting their own citizens and particular forms of political and religious speech. Those targeted are disproportionately Christian, conservative, or nationalist.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not a coincidence that these kinds of global forces are using similar tactics to those that were used on this side of the Atlantic against President Trump and his supporters over the past eight years,&#8221; the State Department official shared.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has <a href="https://f233cf64.streaklinks.com/CcLXDh56OqECKj6vpgth4qlU/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.gov%2Freleases%2Foffice-of-the-spokesperson%2F2025%2F05%2Fsecretary-of-state-marco-rubio-before-the-house-committee-on-appropriations-subcommittee-on-state-foreign-operations-and-related-programs-on-the-fy26-department-of-state-budget-request%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly emphasized</a> that everything the State Department is doing must be done in the &#8220;national interest.&#8221; Increasingly, the State Department is noticing that the measures taken by the European Union are not only affecting European citizens, but also affecting American individuals and companies.
&#8220;In the spirit of our common culture or common Western heritage, that champions natural rights and free speech, we think we can speak frankly with our European allies about these real concerns,&#8221; that official noted. &#8220;If we&#8217;re not on the same page civilizationally, if we&#8217;re not on the same page politically, if we&#8217;re not on the same page values-wise, it makes those very important relationships much harder to guarantee.&#8221;
In March 2025, French authorities charged Marine Le Pen — a conservative and  presumptive presidential candidate for the &#8220;National Rally&#8221; — with embezzlement. A court quickly found her guilty, placed her on house arrest, and banned her from seeking elected office for five years.
The State Department is taking her stature as a political leader and the disproportionate speed at which the French government proceeded with the ban into consideration. They find her case &#8220;unique and concerning,&#8221; The Daily Wire has learned.
In Ireland, the officials will focus on the Digital Services Act, European Union legislation that will impact American companies based in Ireland, particularly technology companies. The legislation ostensibly aims to protect children by moderating online content and harmful practices like child pornography.
But in practice, a State Department official told the Daily Wire, it has been used to target political speech deemed to be hateful or offensive by European governments. American social media companies face heavy fines if they do not conform to the censorship rules.
&#8220;It&#8217;s obviously being weaponized, for political purposes,&#8221; the State Department official said.
State Department officials traveled to the United Kingdom earlier this year, where they met with Livia Tossici-Bolt, a woman prosecuted for holding a sign near a Bournemouth abortion clinic that read: “Here to talk if you want.”
The State Department issued a statement at the time announcing that it was monitoring Tossici-Bolt&#8217;s case and that it was important to the United States that the United Kingdom “respect and protect freedom of expression.&#8221; Tossici-Bolt was convicted in April and ordered to pay a fine of £20,000, <a href="https://f233cf64.streaklinks.com/CcLXDhZ391NTbBI6xAEv1WCt/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2025%2Fapr%2F04%2Fabortion-campaigner-livia-tossici-bolt-buffer-zone-clinic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian reports</a>.
The State Department trip comes amid an ongoing trade war between the United States and European nations. Pressed by The Daily Wire earlier this month as to whether a newly-signed trade deal with the United Kingdom included any assurances from Britain to protect free speech and freedom of religion, Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the agreement was solely focused on the economy.

Former President Donald Trump Rallies For Marco Rubio In Florida

EXCLUSIVE: State Department Officials Head To Europe To Fight For Free Speech

Donald Trump

European Union

Marine Le Pen

President Donald Trump welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House on Wednesday, amid controversy over the Trump administration&#8217;s acceptance of white South African refugees.
&#8220;Hello, nice to see you,&#8221; Trump said before turning to take a picture with Ramaphosa upon welcoming him outside the Oval Office.
The Afrikaner farmers came to the United States, alleging they are the victims of a genocide in their country. The Trump administration accepted 49 farmers — who arrived in the United States on a U.S.-chartered flight earlier this month — through an expedited program. Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-says-dem-senator-only-opposes-afrikaner-refugees-because-of-their-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have denied</a> that Afrikaners are being persecuted for their race, and have criticized the Trump administration for resettling the refugees in the United States.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was just greeted by President Trump at the White House. The two leaders will have lunch and an Oval Office meeting. <a href="https://t.co/9yKRkKnbkn">pic.twitter.com/9yKRkKnbkn</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1925221906531106999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump pushed back on those criticisms last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-rips-critics-of-south-african-refugee-policy-its-a-terrible-thing-thats-taking-place?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Rips+Critics+Of+South+African+Refugee+Policy%3A+%E2%80%98It%E2%80%99s+A+Terrible+Thing+That%E2%80%99s+Taking+Place%E2%80%99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> the refugees &#8220;happen to be white, but whether they’re white or black makes no difference to me.”
&#8220;White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, and the newspapers and the television media doesn’t even talk about it,&#8221; the president added.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
Trump and Ramaphosa will have a bilateral lunch followed by an Oval Office meeting, where Elon Musk is expected to be present, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/21/musk-trump-south-africa-cyril-ramaphosa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios reported</a>. Musk, a South African native, has been a vocal critic of its current government.
Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, are also expected to attend the meeting.
Tensions between the two countries have increased following the passage of South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which allows the South African government to confiscate land without compensation.
Trump issued an executive order in February saying the act ignored citizens’ rights and enabled the government to “seize ethnic minority Afrikaners&#8217; agricultural property without compensation.” The executive order cut aid or assistance to South Africa and declared that the United States will promote resettling Afrikaner refugees.
The Trump administration also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-bans-south-africas-ambassador-to-u-s-from-entering-country?author=Ryan+Saavedra&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Bans+South+Africa%E2%80%99s+Ambassador+To+U.S.+From+Entering+Country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banned</a> Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, after he claimed Trump was “mobilizing” white supremacy around the world.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-to-screen-immigrants-and-foreign-students-social-media-for-anti-semitism?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=29&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Homeland+Security+To+Screen+Immigrants+And+Foreign+Students%E2%80%99+Social+Media+For+Anti-Semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOMELAND SECURITY TO SCREEN IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANTI-SEMITISM</a>
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician who hates America and @POTUS.”
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-bans-south-africas-ambassador-to-u-s-from-entering-country?author=Ryan+Saavedra&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Bans+South+Africa%E2%80%99s+Ambassador+To+U.S.+From+Entering+Country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rubio posted</a>.
In March, Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1903556327290626165" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared a video</a> of Julius Malema, a member of South Africa&#8217;s National Assembly, singing “Kill the Boer” at a political rally, a reference to Afrikaners.
“Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide,” Musk posted. “A whole arena chanting about killing white people.”
Musk added that his company, Starlink, is unable to get a license to operate in South Africa because Musk is not black.
Rubio also denounced the “Kill the Boer” song, claiming it &#8220;incites violence.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deals-and-diplomacy-heres-everything-trump-accomplished-on-his-gulf-tour?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Deals+And+Diplomacy%3A+Here%E2%80%99s+Everything+Trump+Accomplished+On+His+Gulf+Tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEALS AND DIPLOMACY: HERE’S EVERYTHING TRUMP ACCOMPLISHED ON HIS GULF TOUR</a>
“South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities,” <a href="https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1904288660016759029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he posted</a> in March. “The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence.”
Rubio doubled down on the Trump administration’s belief that Afrikaners are being persecuted during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
“These are people whose farms were burned down and they were killed because of the color of their skin,” Rubio said in a heated exchange with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
Rubio added that the farmers qualify for refugee status because they “live in a country where farms are taken and land is taken on a racial basis.”

US-SAFRICA-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP

Trump Welcomes South African President To White House Amid Controversy Over Afrikaner Refugees

Elon Musk

South Africa

White House

Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Democrat Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) over his reaction to America’s acceptance of white South African refugees, with the Trump administration official charging that the Democrat doesn’t like the refugees because they’re white.
The heated exchange came during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting, which came just a week after less than 60 Afrikaner refugees <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crljn5046epo">arrived</a> in Virginia, prompting outrage from many on the Left.
“Can you have a different standard based upon the color of somebody&#8217;s skin? Would that be acceptable?” Kaine asked Rubio during the committee meeting. “I&#8217;m not the one arguing that, apparently you are because you don&#8217;t like the fact that they’re white and that’s why they’re coming,” Rubio shot back in response.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
&#8220;You just don&#8217;t like that they&#8217;re white&#8221;
Secretary Of State Rubio smokes Tim Kaine for melting down over the legal admittance for 59 White refugees
<a href="https://t.co/8WMDoaBNY4">pic.twitter.com/8WMDoaBNY4</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1924871155669717152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
“You&#8217;re the one that&#8217;s talking about the color of their skin, not me. These are people whose farms were burned down and they were killed because of the color of their skin,” the Secretary of State went on to add.
He also explained during the hearing that the Afrikaners qualify for refugee status because they “live in a country where farms are taken and land is taken on a racial basis.”
Kaine <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rubio-clashes-kaine-south-african-refugees-you-dont-like-theyre-white">claimed</a> that the notion that Afrikaners are being persecuted because of their race is “completely specious,” but South African political leaders have openly called for the killing of white South Africans at large political rallies.
Julius Malema, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, chanted “shoot to kill” and “kill the boer” at a political rally in reference to the white Afrikaner population. At another event, he said that his political movement is “cutting the throat of whiteness.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
South Africa&#8217;s Julius Malema, the party leader of the EFF calls for killing white people:
&#8220;Shoot to kiII. KiII the Boer, the farmer&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/vFjqJ9l8GR">pic.twitter.com/vFjqJ9l8GR</a> <a href="https://t.co/sxzS0d0Dn4">https://t.co/sxzS0d0Dn4</a>
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1903420572391907834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Episcopal Church’s refugee resettlement wing, which has resettled migrants in the United States for decades, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/episcopal-church-refuses-to-resettle-white-south-african-refugees-citing-racial-justice-commitment?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Episcopal+Church+Refuses+To+Resettle+White+South+African+Refugees%2C+Citing+%E2%80%98Racial+Justice%E2%80%99+Commitment">announced</a> that it would refuse to help settle the Afrikaners for explicitly racial reasons. Episcopal Migration Ministries cited its “steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation” as it announced its refusal of support for the Afrikaners.
The organization even said it would terminate its existing resettlement contract with the federal government over the controversy. “We have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government,” Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said.

Rubio Says Dem Senator Only Opposes Afrikaner Refugees Because Of Their Race

Immigration

Refugees

Tim Kaine

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced off with Senator Chris Van Hollen during a fiery Senate hearing on Tuesday over student visas, illegal immigrant gang members, and USAID.
The two faced off after the Maryland Democrat spent over seven minutes criticizing Rubio and expressing regret for having supported his confirmation.
“I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State,” Van Hollen said following his opportunity to question Rubio, choosing instead to deliver a long rant.
“Your regret for voting for me confirms that I am doing a good job based on what I know about your record,” Rubio fired back.
The Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-votes-unanimously-to-confirm-marco-rubio-as-secretary-of-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimously confirmed</a> Rubio in January.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-threatens-to-snatch-visas-from-pro-hamas-thugs-at-columbia-university?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Threatens+To+Snatch+Visas+From+%E2%80%98Pro-Hamas+Thugs%E2%80%99+At+Columbia+University" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RUBIO THREATENS TO SNATCH VISAS FROM ‘PRO-HAMAS THUGS’ AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY</a>
Rubio responded to Van Hollen’s criticism of the secretary traveling to El Salvador, where illegal alien gang members have been deported and imprisoned.
“In the case of El Salvador, absolutely, absolutely. We deported gang members. Gang members. Including the one that you had a margarita with,” Rubio quipped. “The guy is a human trafficker and that guy is a gangbanger and the evidence is going to be clear in the days to come. You are going to see who you went to defend.”
Van Hollen immediately interrupted before being told to be silent by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James Risch (R-ID).
“He can’t make unsubstantiated comments like that,” Van Hollen said. “Secretary Rubio should take that testimony to federal court in the United States because he hasn’t done it under oath.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sipping-margaritas-dem-senator-finally-meets-deported-illegal-immigrant-in-el-salvador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Van Hollen visited</a> 29-year-old illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is detained in a Salvadoran mega-prison, in April. Photos went viral of the two drinking margaritas while meeting at a restaurant.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
“Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ &amp; ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said in a <a href="https://x.com/nayibbukele/status/1913028548001923259">post on X</a> that mocked the meeting.
Rubio attempted to address his former colleague’s remarks on USAID, despite the senator&#8217;s interruptions, explaining that he believes wasteful spending was cut. Rubio pointed out $10 million was cut from a program giving male circumcisions in Mozambique and $227,000 for “Big Cats YouTube channel,” and $14 million for “social cohesion” in Mali.
“I don’t know how that makes us stronger or more prosperous as a nation,” Rubio said.
The two also faced off over Rubio revoking student visas from campus disruptors, including the case of Turkish Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk, who had her visa terminated over her alleged “activities in support of Hamas.”
“A visa is not a right, it is a privilege,” Rubio said. “People apply for student visas to come into the United States and study, and if you tell me that you are coming into the United States to lead campus crusades, to take over libraries and try to burn down buildings and acts of violence, we’re not going to give you a visa.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-to-screen-immigrants-and-foreign-students-social-media-for-anti-semitism?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=29&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Homeland+Security+To+Screen+Immigrants+And+Foreign+Students%E2%80%99+Social+Media+For+Anti-Semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOMELAND SECURITY TO SCREEN IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANTI-SEMITISM</a>
In 2024, Ozturk wrote an op-ed calling on her university to acknowledge the “Palestinian genocide” and to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
The Department of Homeland Security previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morning-brief-trumps-liberation-day-doge-pr-battle-self-deportation-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said it had found</a> Ozturk to have “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” though details are scarce, and a federal judge ordered her release on May 9.
“The bottom line is if you come here to stir up trouble on our campuses, we will deny you a visa,” Rubio said. “These kids pay money to go to school, and they have to walk through a bunch of lunatics who are here on student visas.”
Rubio added that the State Department will continue to revoke visas and stated, “I hope we can find more of these people.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Rubio Faces Off With Democratic Senator During Heated Confrontation

Senate

USAID

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes to revoke more student visas from campus disruptors during a heated Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“A visa is not a right, it is a privilege,” Rubio said while testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. “People apply for student visas to come into the United States and study, and if you tell me that you are coming into the United States to lead campus crusades, to take over libraries and try to burn down buildings and acts of violence, we’re not going to give you a visa.”
“The bottom line is if you come here to stir up trouble on our campuses, we will deny you a visa,” Rubio said. &#8220;These kids pay money to go to school, and they have to walk through a bunch of lunatics who are here on student visas.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> doubles down and says he plans to revoke more student visas.
&quot;These kids pay money to go to school and they have to walk through a bunch of lunatics who are here on student visas.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8CILwzDs8h">pic.twitter.com/8CILwzDs8h</a>
&mdash; Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1924862749642752362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rubio added that the State Department will continue to revoke visas and stated, “I hope we can find more of these people.”
The secretary&#8217;s comments followed a fiery exchange with Senator Chris Van Hollen, in which the Maryland Democrat told his former Senate colleague that he regretted voting to confirm him.
&#8220;I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State,&#8221; Van Hollen said.
&#8220;Your regret for voting for me confirms I&#8217;m doing a good job,&#8221; Rubio shot back.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@ChrisVanHollen</a>: &#8220;I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State.&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@SecRubio</a>: &#8220;Your regret for voting for me confirms I&#8217;m doing a good job.&#8221;
Van Hollen: &#8220;That&#8217;s a flippant statement.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/2UHH7tkkrT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/2UHH7tkkrT</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1924865776801951774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Rubio also defended the Trump State Department&#8217;s attempts to cut government waste and illegal immigration.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t regret cutting $10 million for male circumcisions in Mozambique,&#8221; Rubio said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how that makes us stronger or more prosperous as a nation.&#8221;
&#8220;We spent $14 million for social cohesion in Mali, whatever the hell that means,&#8221; the secretary added. &#8220;I can go on and on. &#8230; I didn&#8217;t even bring the whole list.&#8221;
&#8220;And in the case of El Salvador, absolutely, we deported gang members — including the one you had a margarita with,&#8221; Rubio said, referencing Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the &#8220;Maryland Man&#8221; deported to El Salvador who has become a cause célèbre for Democrats. Van Hollen flew to El Salvador to meet with Garcia, whom Rubio called &#8220;a human trafficker&#8221; and &#8220;a gangbanger.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> doubles down and says he plans to revoke more student visas.
&quot;These kids pay money to go to school and they have to walk through a bunch of lunatics who are here on student visas.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8CILwzDs8h">pic.twitter.com/8CILwzDs8h</a>
&mdash; Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1924862749642752362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
Van Hollen pushed Rubio on the March arrest of Turkish Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk, who had her student visa terminated over her alleged “activities in support of Hamas.”
In 2024, Ozturk wrote an op-ed calling on her university to acknowledge the &#8220;Palestinian genocide” and to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
The Department of Homeland Security previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morning-brief-trumps-liberation-day-doge-pr-battle-self-deportation-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said it had found</a> Ozturk to have &#8220;engaged in activities in support of Hamas,&#8221; though details are scarce, and a federal judge ordered her release on May 9.
The fiery interaction comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on foreign visa holders participating in activities aligned with terrorist organizations, such as the antisemitic protests on college campuses.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-to-screen-immigrants-and-foreign-students-social-media-for-anti-semitism?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=29&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Homeland+Security+To+Screen+Immigrants+And+Foreign+Students%E2%80%99+Social+Media+For+Anti-Semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOMELAND SECURITY TO SCREEN IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANTI-SEMITISM</a>
Earlier this month, Rubio said he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-threatens-to-snatch-visas-from-pro-hamas-thugs-at-columbia-university?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Threatens+To+Snatch+Visas+From+%E2%80%98Pro-Hamas+Thugs%E2%80%99+At+Columbia+University" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reviewing the visa status</a> of masked anti-Israel protesters arrested for occupying Columbia University’s Butler Library.
“We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library,” <a href="https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1920293818194178397" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rubio posted to X</a>. “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zionists-dont-deserve-to-live-meet-the-leader-of-columbia-universitys-anti-israel-encampment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘ZIONISTS DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE’: MEET THE LEADER OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT</a>
The keffiyeh-wearing protesters, carrying large signs and chanting, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/masked-anti-israel-activists-take-over-columbia-u-library-during-finals-no-one-expels-them?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Masked+Anti-Israel+Activists+Take+Over+Columbia+U+Library+During+Finals.+No+One+Expels+Them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invaded the library</a> to disrupt students studying for finals. While inside, the protesters vandalized walls and furniture <a href="https://x.com/CU_JewishAlumni/status/1920278419113124257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and</a> graffitied “Columbia will burn for the martyrs” on a glass case.
When protesters tried to leave, they were denied by public safety officers who requested to see their IDs before leaving, causing the protest to intensify. For about five hours, the disruption continued until about 80 protesters were taken into custody by law enforcement officers and placed on police buses, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/07/us-news/masked-anti-israel-protesters-storm-columbia-library-shove-past-security-as-ivy-leaguers-prep-for-finals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the New York Post reported</a>.

Marco Rubio and Columbia University Protesters

Rubio Shares Plans For Campus Protesters In Fiery Senate Hearing

Columbia University

The Trump administration on Monday defended its decision to offer refugee status to dozens of white Afrikaners who said they were persecuted in South Africa.
President Donald Trump in a press briefing at the White House defended welcoming 49 Afrikaners who arrived on a U.S.-chartered flight from South Africa on Monday. Trump told reporters that white Afrikaners are “being killed” in a “genocide.”
“They’re being killed, and we don&#8217;t want to see people be killed,” Trump said. “It&#8217;s a terrible thing that&#8217;s taking place. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they&#8217;re white or black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, and the newspapers and the television media doesn&#8217;t even talk about it.”
The president mentioned that the United States may choose to skip the upcoming G20 summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November unless the South African government takes steps to stop the persecution.
The refugee policy sparked questions of race, since the persecuted Afrikaners are white and targeted because of their race.
“I don&#8217;t care who they are. I don&#8217;t care about their race, their color. I don&#8217;t care about their height, their weight. I don&#8217;t care about anything,” Trump said. “I just know that what&#8217;s happening is terrible. I have people that live in South Africa. They say it&#8217;s a terrible situation taking place, so we&#8217;ve essentially extended citizenship to those people to escape from that violence and come here.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump on giving refugee status to South Africans: &quot;It&#39;s a genocide. White Farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated. And the media doesn&#39;t even talk about it. If it were the other way around, that would be the only story they talk about.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/YMP2QhYgzt">pic.twitter.com/YMP2QhYgzt</a>
&mdash; TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1921942595325895138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump’s comments in a <a href="https://x.com/secrubio/status/1921990312999735528" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X: “​​The South African government has treated these people terribly — threatening to steal their private land and subjected them to vile racial discrimination. The Trump Administration is proud to offer them refuge in our great country.”
The South African government has denied that white farmers are being persecuted.
“They can’t provide any proof of any persecution because there’s not any,” said Ronald Lamola, the country’s international relations and cooperation minister, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/05/12/afrikaner-refugees-arrive-dulles-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. “There is not any form of persecution to white South Africans.”
The U.S. president suspended aid to South Africa in February. In the executive order directing the action, Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/addressing-egregious-actions-of-the-republic-of-south-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> the South African government of “fueling” violence against white landowners and legislating “to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.”
Trump ally Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1886321811937189902" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that his former home has “openly racist ownership laws.”

Trump Rips Critics Of South African Refugee Policy: ‘It’s A Terrible Thing That’s Taking Place’

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