Secretary of State Marco Rubio used a recent State Department press briefing to describe a scenario that could make any traveler nervous. Imagine an American arriving in Europe, getting pulled aside, and facing legal issues over something they shared online years ago.
“Are we going to live in a world where some American puts up a social media post and then gets to some airport somewhere and is arrested?” Rubio asked, according to Fox News.
Rubio mentioned that the administration is monitoring how European rules affect U.S. tech companies. He pointed out penalties aimed at social platforms. In the same remarks, he mentioned X and said it was “facing this massive multimillion-dollar fine” linked to operating in Europe.
Fox News portrayed Rubio’s warning as part of a push by the Trump administration to pressure European governments on speech rules. The story referenced earlier conflicts, including a 2024 incident when a London police official discussed possibly pursuing Americans under U.K. hate-speech laws. It also noted Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of European censorship at the Munich Security Conference.
However, Rubio’s warning is getting attention because it clashes with what his own department is developing at home. The U.S. government is increasingly seeing social media as a screening tool, not just a space for debate.
In June 2025, the State Department announced “expanded screening and vetting for visa applicants,” which included reviewing applicants’ “online presence” for student and exchange visitor visas. By December 2025, the department widened its online presence review again. They advised H-1B and H-4 applicants, as well as F, M, and J applicants, to change their social media profiles to “public” to assist in the review.
This presents a conflict for Rubio because, on one hand, he warns that speech regulation abroad could impact American tourists. On the other hand, the U.S. government is instructing visa applicants to reveal their online activity, judging their eligibility based on that information.
Rubio has also used the visa policy as a tool regarding speech in other contexts. In May 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Brazil shared a State Department announcement supporting a visa restriction policy aimed at foreign nationals who censor Americans. They labeled it “unacceptable” for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants for U.S. citizens over social media posts.
Fox’s report also mentions that the administration imposed visa bans on former EU commissioner Thierry Breton and others connected to Europe’s Digital Services Act. Rubio defended this action as a response to pressure on American platforms.
Rubio essentially argues that speech should be protected when Americans speak, but punished when foreign regulators try to limit that speech. At the same time, he oversees a visa system that requires outsiders to reveal their speech for U.S. scrutiny.
For Americans planning trips to Europe, Rubio’s comments serve as a warning to be mindful of what you post, as someone else might not see it as harmless. For visa applicants considering the U.S., the message is different: make it public, or you might face issues.
The UK has notably arrested many of its own citizens for social media posts considered to promote hate speech or violence, and there is growing protest surrounding the policy. As with any country, tourists should familiarize themselves with the law before visiting.
