Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Friday tackled those who are criticizing Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for his remarks in a recent college graduation speech, saying that people who say the NFL player called for women to stay home and have babies are "liars."
"He NEVER told women to stay home & have babies," Rubio wrote in a post on X. "What he actually said is an important truth that applies to BOTH men and women. That no matter what we achieve in professional careers, our VOCATION as a husband/wife & father/mother is the most important, impactful & fulfilling role any of us will ever have."
During his speech Saturday at Benedictine College, a small Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas, Butker drew fire for what others are saying were traditional Catholic comments.
These include his suggestion that the female graduates were "most excited" about being married and having children rather than their future careers.
"I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you," he told the graduates, CNN reported. "How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."
Further, he praised his wife Isabelle, telling the audience that she "would be the first to say her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."
He also said that his wife's "dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you asked her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud, without hesitation, and say, 'Heck, no.'"
Butker also referred to Pride Month as a "deadly sin," complained about diversity and equity initiatives, and invoked Taylor Swift, teammate Travis Kelce's girlfriend, while criticizing wavering priests for catering to their parishioners' feelings.
"As my teammate's girlfriend says: 'Familiarity breeds contempt,'" he said.
While speaking out about Pride Month, Butker said there is a difference between "the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it" and "the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the Holy Ghost to glorify him."
Further, Butker spoke out against recreational sex, telling the graduates that "there is nothing good about playing God with having children — whether that be your ideal number or the perfect time to conceive. No matter how you spin it, there is nothing natural about Catholic birth control."
Rubio did not comment about Butker's other statements.
The NFL has distanced itself from Butker's comments, saying he gave his speech in a personal, not professional capacity.
"His views are not those of the NFL as an organization," Senior Vice President Jonathan Beane, the league's chief diversity and inclusion officer, told CNN. "The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."