Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to Senator Chris Van Hollen after Maryland's Democrat said he regretted having voted for Rubio as the main advisor of President Donald Trump, who led to a burning exchange during an audience in the Senate on Tuesday.
Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the state department's budget proposal when Van Hollen used his time to destroy the State Department to revoke the visas of those who found themselves by interrupting university campuses or committing acts of violence.
“His fear and repression campaign is eating the fundamental values of our democracy,” said Van Hollen, comparing Rubio with Senator Joseph McCarthy. He added: “And I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret to have voted for you by the Secretary of State.”
“First, your regret for voting for me confirms that I am doing a good job,” said Rubio.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies to the Hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to examine the request for budget proposed by the President for fiscal year 2026 for the State Department in Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo AP/José Luis Magana)
“That is just an impertinent statement, Mr. Secretary,” Van Hollen replied.
The president of the committee, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, intervened, asking Van Hollen to let Rubio respond to his claims without interruption. When Van Hollen asked him if, in turn, he can respond to Rubio, Risch said: “Your time is over, Mr. Senator, and with lamentingly used he could add.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-MD., Reacts while talking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
Rubio continued, saying that in the case of El Salvador, “we deported the members of the gangs … including the one you had a margarita”, referring to Van Hollen's visit to see the deporte “Maryland Man” Kilmar Abrego García in El Salvador. “And that guy is a trafficker of people, and that guy is a gangbenger, and the evidence will be clear in the next few days.”
Van Hollen then jumped, shouting to the president that Rubio “cannot make comments without foundation like that.”
“The Rubio Secretary should take that testimony before the Federal Court of the United States because he has not done so under oath,” said Van Hollen before Risch hit the hammer to allow Rubio to continue.
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Rubio continued: “On the students' visas, let me say this. Do not sport anyone and do not grab anyone. The State Department does not have officers in the streets that snatch everyone. What I do is revoke visas. And it is very simple. A visa is not a right. It is a privilege.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen had a burning exchange with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at an audience of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
“People request student visas to come to the United States and study. And if you tell me that you come to the United States to direct the crusades of the Campus, to take care of libraries and try to burn buildings and acts of violence, we will not give you a visa,” he continued.
Van Hollen shot that Rubio “was just blowing smoke here now.”
Rubio replied: “The conclusion is that, if you come here to cause problems on our campus, we will deny you a visa. And if you have a visa, and we will find you, we will revoke it.”
Rubio said the Trump administration will continue to revoke the visas of those who are here as guests and are interrupting the university campuses.
A senior state department official reacted to the exchange in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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“Once again, Senator Van Hollen shows that he cares more about illegal immigrants than his own electors,” said the state department official.
