In a recent interview with The Spectator’s Ben Domenech on February 27, 2025, President Donald Trump mocked CBS News host Margaret Brennan over her controversial comments that appeared to suggest free speech contributed to the Holocaust. He referred to her show as “Deface the Nation” and questioned her qualifications for the job.
Trump’s comments came in response to a February 16, 2025 interview in which Brennan spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In this discussion, she criticized Vice President JD Vance’s defense of free speech at the Munich Security Conference and his condemnation of government censorship throughout Europe.
The president described the incident, saying, “I call it ‘Deface the Nation.’ Brennan is like anybody on the street that you could take and say, ‘Go in and ask a few questions.’ That was so bad, I don’t get how you hire some of these people.”
Brennan said that Vance’s speech took place in a country where free speech had been used to facilitate a genocide. She noted his meeting with the leader of a far-right political party with historical ties to extremist groups, suggesting that the context was important and that the censorship Vance condemned was specifically aimed at right-wing speech.
Rubio immediately objected to Brennan’s historical interpretation. He argued that the Holocaust was perpetrated by an authoritarian Nazi regime that targeted Jews, minorities, and others they despised, rather than being the result of free speech. He pointed out that free speech did not exist in Nazi Germany, nor was there any political opposition, as the Nazis were the only ruling party.
Rubio’s assertions align with the views of many historians, who generally agree that the Nazi regime swiftly curtailed freedom of speech and the press after seizing power, shutting down anti-Nazi newspapers, requiring journalists to be licensed by the government, and arresting Germans who criticized the regime.
Vice President Vance also weighed in on Brennan’s comments, expressing incredulity at her claims. He questioned whether the media genuinely believed that the Holocaust was a result of free speech.
According to CBS News, Vance “stunned European leaders in Munich with a speech in which he painted a picture of European politics infected by media censorship and political correctness.” During his visit to Europe, Vance met with the leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right political party with controversial views, which Brennan referenced during her interview with Rubio.
Brennan has had several confrontational exchanges with officials from the Trump administration, including Secretary Rubio and Vice President Vance, as well as with Senator Lindsey Graham. These have revolved around various issues, from immigration to presidential statements. CBS News has not yet responded to requests for comment on Trump’s criticism of Brennan.
Despite significant backlash from conservatives and historians regarding Brennan’s comments about free speech in Nazi Germany, some have defended her. While Brennan did imply that free speech played a role in Nazi Germany, her argument was that it was “weaponized,” rather than directly causing the Holocaust.
Trump’s criticism comes amidst reports of him applying increased pressure on CBS with a massive discovery demand as part of a lawsuit against “60 Minutes,” another CBS News program.
Since assuming the role of moderator for “Face the Nation” in 2018, Brennan has frequently been in the limelight due to these contentious exchanges with Trump administration officials. These instances have often gone viral on social media, garnering both criticism and support depending on political leanings.
