Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of State on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
"That’s just a flippant statement, Mr. Secretary," Van Hollen shot back.
Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, interjected, asking Van Hollen to let Rubio respond to his claims without interruption. When Van Hollen asked if he can, in turn, respond to Rubio, Risch said, "Your time is up, Mr. Senator, and woefully used I might add."
Sen. Chris Van Hollen had a fiery exchange with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
"People apply for student visas to come into the United States and study. And if you tell me you’re coming to the United States to lead campus crusades, to take over libraries, and try to burn down buildings and acts of violence, we’re not going to give you a visa," he continued.
Van Hollen shot back that Rubio "was just blowing smoke here now."
Rubio responded: "The bottom line is, if you’re coming here to stir up trouble on our campuses, we will deny you a visa. And if you have a visa, and we 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 disrupting college 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 proves that he cares more about illegal immigrants than his own constituents," the senior State Department official said.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rubio-fires-back-after-dem-senator-says-he-regrets-voting-him-sparking-tense-exchange