Marco Rubio's hunt for "anti-Christian bias" is creeping theocracy [View all]

Marco Rubio's hunt for "anti-Christian bias" is creeping theocracy
In a new war on federal workers, State Department employees are told to snitch on people with Pride flags

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published April 15, 2025 6:00AM (EDT)


(Salon) Secretary of State Marco Rubio always looks like a whipped dog when he's out in public, especially around his boss Donald Trump, leading many observers to assume he's a reluctant participant in the authoritarian agenda of the White House. Before going full MAGA, Rubio had fashioned himself an opponent of the autocratic oppression Trump embraces. He even used to pretend his family had emigrated from Cuba to flee the dictatorship of Fidel Castro, finding refuge in the United States, "welcomed by the most compassionate people on all the Earth." A lovely story, but untrue, as they immigrated before Castro's rise to power. Still, it inspires hope in some that Rubio knows his complicity with Trump's fascist designs is wrong.

Whatever is in his heart, though, there can be no denying that Rubio is pushing some of the most aggressive policies attacking First Amendment protections for free speech and freedom of religion. Last week, the Associated Press revealed a memo signed by Rubio declaring the power to deport legal immigrants for "beliefs, statements, or associations that are otherwise lawful." Rubio has supported the arrest of legal residents for exercising their right to free speech and has been busy revoking the visas of hundreds of international students who have committed no crime other than disagreeing with Trump's political opinions. One student wasn't even targeted for political reasons, but she does research in biology, a field that the Trump administration looks at with hostility.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio always looks like a whipped dog when he's out in public, especially around his boss Donald Trump, leading many observers to assume he's a reluctant participant in the authoritarian agenda of the White House. Before going full MAGA, Rubio had fashioned himself an opponent of the autocratic oppression Trump embraces. He even used to pretend his family had emigrated from Cuba to flee the dictatorship of Fidel Castro, finding refuge in the United States, "welcomed by the most compassionate people on all the Earth." A lovely story, but untrue, as they immigrated before Castro's rise to power. Still, it inspires hope in some that Rubio knows his complicity with Trump's fascist designs is wrong.

Whatever is in his heart, though, there can be no denying that Rubio is pushing some of the most aggressive policies attacking First Amendment protections for free speech and freedom of religion. Last week, the Associated Press revealed a memo signed by Rubio declaring the power to deport legal immigrants for "beliefs, statements, or associations that are otherwise lawful." Rubio has supported the arrest of legal residents for exercising their right to free speech and has been busy revoking the visas of hundreds of international students who have committed no crime other than disagreeing with Trump's political opinions. One student wasn't even targeted for political reasons, but she does research in biology, a field that the Trump administration looks at with hostility.

....(snip)....

For instance, the memo wants reports of "mistreatment for opposing displays of flags, banners or other paraphernalia," specifically during President Joe Biden's administration. It doesn't take a doctorate in bureaucratese to interpret this. Rubio is seeking stories where conservative Christians were told to mind their business, after objecting to a colleague putting up a Pride flag, a Black Lives Matter sign, or perhaps a religious knick-knack from a non-Christian faith. It would be more understandable if, say, Christians were being told they couldn't wear a cross or have a picture of Jesus on their desk. But what Rubio is suggesting is that Christians have a right to stop other people from having equal freedoms — and that it's "bias" against Christians if they can't control other people. .................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/04/15/marco-rubios-hunt-for-anti-christmas-bias-is-creeping-theocracy/