Former President Donald Trump expressed his exuberant admiration for Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a social media post, celebrating the standing ovation Rubio received in Germany after advocating for Europe's return to Christianity and tighter control on mass immigration.
"WOW! Secretary Marco Rubio just got a HUGE standing ovation in Germany after telling Europe we need to return to Christianity and oppose third-world migration. Marco is KILLING IT and the whole world is watching! We love Marco," Trump wrote in a viral post on his Truth Social account.
The speech that earned Rubio the presidential praise took place at the Munich Security Conference, held in mid-February 2026 at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. Addressing top political leaders and defense experts from the Western world, Rubio argued for the shared heritage between the United States and Europe.
"We are part of one civilization: Western civilization. We are united by the deepest bonds that nations can share, forged through centuries of common history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry, and the sacrifices our forebears made together," Rubio declared, according to the official State Department transcript.
On the topic of immigration, Rubio was firm: "Mass migration is not, was not, and is not a fringe issue of little consequence. It was and remains a crisis that transforms and destabilizes societies across the West."
Mixed Reactions in Europe
Upon concluding his remarks, Rubio received a standing ovation that surprised many in attendance. Some observers interpreted it as a relief from European leaders, contrasting the more conciliatory tone of Rubio with the confrontational speech given by Vice President J.D. Vance at the same conference the previous year.
The European response was mixed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed feeling "very reassured" by Rubio's words, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described it as the message of a "true ally."
However, Brookings analyst Constanze Stelzenmüller criticized Rubio's language on immigration and civilization as "deeply troubling."
Ongoing Praise from Trump
Trump's post fits into a broader pattern of recurring praise throughout 2026. Just days after Munich, Trump had already remarked that Rubio did an "excellent job" and jokingly noted that his performance was so good it "almost" cost him his position. During the State of the Union address in February, Trump referred to him as "a great Secretary of State, perhaps the best."
Praise continued into September at the "Shield of the Americas" summit in New York, where Trump claimed Rubio had "cracked the code" on the Cuban situation and was doing "a fantastic job."
In a White House event for Hispanic Heritage Month, Trump again lauded Rubio as "a master" in diplomacy, adding, "Look at what he's doing with Cuba."
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was confirmed as Secretary of State with unanimous Senate approval and has become the highest-ranking Hispanic American official in U.S. government history.
Marco Rubio's Impact and Reactions
What was the main message of Marco Rubio's speech in Germany?
Marco Rubio's main message in his speech was the need for Europe to return to Christianity and the importance of controlling mass immigration, emphasizing the shared Western civilization between the U.S. and Europe.
How did European leaders react to Rubio's speech?
European leaders had mixed reactions. Some, like Ursula von der Leyen, felt reassured by Rubio's words, while others, like Constanze Stelzenmüller, found his language on immigration troubling.