At the Munich Security Conference (Feb 13–15, 2026), Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful address defending Western heritage, urging renewed transatlantic leadership and drawing a strong response from the podium. From Air Force One, former President Trump praised Rubio’s performance and criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Hillary Clinton for what he called embarrassing or incompetent appearances abroad. Critics at the conference challenged Democratic remarks on foreign policy and accused some U.S. figures of undermining American standing. The exchanges underscored widening partisan divides as U.S. officials and politicians debated strategy and messaging on the global stage. (americanrhetoric.com)