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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Pnyx hill, where ancient Athenians held democratic assemblies, with the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis in the background, in Athens, Greece, October 7, 2026.
Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters
Listening to Marco Rubio’s speech in Athens, I felt as if I was hearing something out of another era of politics. The remarks of the secretary of state were stirring. They were morally and intellectual serious.
Secretary Rubio observed: “The men who made the Parthenon, they built upwards.” Rubio’s rhetoric built upwards as well — calling America and Europe to aspire to be the best versions of themselves.
About the Author
Michael R. Strain holds the Paul F. Oreffice Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute.
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Listening to Marco Rubio’s speech in Athens, I felt as if I was hearing something out of another era of politics. The remarks of the secretary of state were stirring. They were morally and intellectual serious.
Secretary Rubio observed: “The men who made the Parthenon, they built upwards.” Rubio’s rhetoric built upwards as well — calling America and Europe to aspire to be the best versions of themselves.
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About the Author
Michael R. Strain holds the Paul F. Oreffice Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute.
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