CBS host Margaret Brennan's recent comments linking free speech to the Holocaust during a discussion about Vice President JD Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference have ignited a firestorm of criticism.

Brennan's remarks came during a "Face the Nation" interview with Senator Marco Rubio. They were discussing Vance's criticism of European censorship practices, which he likened to Soviet-era tactics. Brennan countered by stating that Vance was "standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide." This statement implied a causal link between free speech and the Holocaust, a claim that Rubio immediately challenged.

Rubio argued that the Holocaust was perpetrated by the authoritarian Nazi regime due to their hatred of Jews and minorities, emphasizing the absence of free speech in Nazi Germany. He pointed out that the Nazis were the sole governing party, making Brennan's assertion historically inaccurate.

Conservative commentators and social media users swiftly condemned Brennan's remarks. Many labeled her take as "incredibly dumb," "deeply ignorant," and "bonkers." Some called for her dismissal from CBS News, while others accused her of deliberate misinformation. Several commentators pointed out the irony of blaming free speech for a genocide carried out by a regime that suppressed all dissent.

Vance himself responded to the controversy, expressing disbelief that the media would attribute the Holocaust to free speech. He reiterated his criticism of European censorship, arguing that it serves to silence dissenting voices and protect established interests. He had previously stated at the Munich Security Conference that the use of terms like "misinformation" and "disinformation" by European leaders resembled Soviet-era suppression tactics.

Fox News Digital reached out to CBS News for comment but did not receive an immediate response.