On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke in Athens. His passionate speech urged a fight against the ‘decline of the West’ and rejected open borders and globalism.
He delivered the speech from the Pnyx, the hill below the Acropolis where ancient Athens held its democratic assembly.
The speech tied ancient Greek ideas of heroism, honor, and duty to an “America First” foreign policy and called for a renewal of Western values.
“’Nationalism’ became a dirty word,” Secretary Rubio shared. “So we tore down our monuments, we condemned our own history, and in too many places we taught our children to be ashamed of the countries they would inherit. In the process we opened our borders, and outsourced our industry, and allowed our militaries to wither and to decay.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: “Nationalism” became a dirty word. So we tore down our monuments, we condemned our own history, and in too many places we taught our children to be ashamed of the countries they would inherit. In the process we opened our borders, and outsourced our industry, and allowed our militaries to wither and to decay.
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026
He continued, “Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads because the next decade and the decisions we make will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world, or resigns itself to a future of atrophy, servitude, and decline.”
“We will either choose to act now, or lose the choice to act at all.”
“Under President Trump, the United States has made its choice.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads because the next decade and the decisions we make will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world, or resigns itself to a future of atrophy, servitude, and decline. We will either choose to act now, or lose the choice to act at all.
Under President Trump, the United States has made its choice.
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026
“We must rebuild our institutions and our alliances to face these threats together – understanding that the purpose of these things is not to abolish the sovereignty of the nations that constitute them, but is to defend them. And that nations need not abandon their distinct identities in order to recognize their common interests.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: We must rebuild our institutions and our alliances to face these threats together – understanding that the purpose of these things is not to abolish the sovereignty of the nations that constitute them, but is to defend them. And that nations need not abandon their distinct identities in order to recognize their common interests.
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026
“We believe that Europe can awaken from its long slumber – and rekindle the fire that was lit here millennia ago.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: We believe that Europe can awaken from its long slumber – and rekindle the fire that was lit here millennia ago. https://t.co/YqNpRTUbgK
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026
Watch the full speech below:
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