Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s shocking revelation about a secret Biden administration office monitoring American citizens has ignited fierce debate about government overreach and censorship.
At a Glance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed the Biden administration maintained a State Department office that monitored Americans’ social media and labeled citizens as “purveyors of disinformation”
- The Global Engagement Center (GEC) allegedly kept dossiers on Americans, including at least one current Trump cabinet official
- Tulsi Gabbard reported identifying 1,300 terrorists who entered the country during Biden’s open border policies
- Trump signed an Executive Order to investigate the Biden administration’s alleged free speech violations
- Trump cabinet meeting highlighted multiple policy concerns including border security and alleged child trafficking
State Department’s Secret Surveillance Program Exposed
During a recent Trump cabinet meeting celebrating the administration’s first 100 days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a startling announcement about a previously unreported surveillance operation within the Biden administration.
According to Rubio, an office within the State Department systematically monitored American citizens’ social media activities and labeled many as sources of disinformation. The revelation has raised serious concerns about potential government censorship and violation of First Amendment rights among administration officials and supporters.
The monitoring operation was conducted through the Global Engagement Center (GEC), established in 2016 to counter foreign propaganda but allegedly repurposed under Biden to target domestic speech. Rubio claimed the office created dossiers on American citizens and revealed that at least one current Trump cabinet official was among those targeted. Though he declined to name the individual, Vice President JD Vance lightened the mood by asking, “Was it me or Elon?” prompting laughter from others in attendance.
— P a u l ◉ (@SkylineReport) April 28, 2025
GEC Operations and Taxpayer Costs
The Global Engagement Center reportedly operated with substantial taxpayer funding while monitoring American citizens. “Under the previous administration, this office, which cost taxpayers more than $50 million per year, spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving. This is antithetical to the very principles we should be upholding and inconceivable it was taking place in America,” stated Rubio in his address to the cabinet and assembled press.
Critics of the GEC have pointed to journalist Matt Taibbi’s reporting, which suggested the Biden administration pressured social media companies to moderate content during the COVID-19 pandemic. The GEC’s connections to organizations labeling conservative media as disinformation sources fueled Republican skepticism about its true purpose. The Trump administration has closed the office amid these allegations of censorship targeting conservative speech.
Border Security and Terrorism Concerns
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered alarming statistics regarding national security threats that allegedly entered the country during Biden’s term. According to Gabbard, in just two days, authorities identified 1,300 individuals with terrorist connections who had crossed the border. “Just the other day, we found 700 alien terrorists who have ties to MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the Sinaloa Cartel,” Gabbard reported during the cabinet meeting, highlighting the security implications of previous border policies.
“But just think about that. The Department of State of the United States had set up an office to monitor the social media posts and commentary of American citizens, to identify them as vectors of disinformation, When we know that the best way to combat disinformation is freedom of speech and transparency,” Rubio said.
The meeting also addressed other policy concerns including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussing a South Dakota ranching family’s legal troubles over a fence dispute, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. making serious allegations regarding the Biden Department of Health and Human Services’ alleged role in child trafficking. These accounts formed part of a broader critique of the previous administration’s policies across multiple departments.
Free Speech Executive Order
In response to these findings, President Trump has signed an Executive Order directing an investigation into the Biden administration’s practices regarding free speech. The order aims to prevent future government actions that could infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights. Trump also set a tone for press interactions during the meeting, requesting respectful questioning from reporters, though the first question regarding a “Maryland dad” in El Salvador reportedly deviated from this directive.
Supporters of the GEC have defended its original mission as essential for combating foreign disinformation campaigns, particularly from adversaries like Russia and China. However, the Trump administration’s position maintains that the center overstepped its authority by monitoring domestic speech rather than focusing exclusively on foreign threats as intended in its 2016 establishment. The controversy continues to highlight tensions between national security concerns and constitutional protections.
