“People Say Stupid Stuff”: Marco Rubio Responds to Racism Against Indians in US

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday reiterated his remarks regarding racist comments targeting Indians in the United States, saying that “people say stupid stuff all the time” on social media and such comments should not define the country.

Rubio was responding to questions raised after his comments at a joint press conference in New Delhi on Sunday alongside Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Clarifying his earlier statement, Rubio said he believed the question referred to online comments and noted that some posts could be generated by trolls or automated accounts.

“I assumed that he was talking about people posting stuff online. Some of those could be a troll, a bot,” he said.

He added, “People say stupid stuff all the time on social media and in every country in the world, unfortunately.”

Rubio Says Racist Remarks Do Not Reflect America

Rubio stressed that offensive comments made by individuals should not be viewed as representative of the United States as a whole.

The US Secretary of State described America as a welcoming and immigrant-friendly nation, while asserting that racist behaviour from a few individuals should not overshadow broader national values.

Speaking about ties between India and the United States, Rubio highlighted the close relationship between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The President loves India, and is a big fan of Prime Minister Modi. I wouldn't be here if the President didn't want me to be here. He wouldn't have sent someone like Sergio to be our ambassador, someone who's very close to the President,” Rubio said.

What Rubio Said Earlier in New Delhi

During Sunday’s joint press conference in New Delhi, Rubio had strongly defended the United States while dismissing racist comments targeting Indians as the actions of “stupid people.”

He said he takes concerns regarding racism seriously but maintained that isolated offensive remarks do not reflect American society or its values.

His comments came amid increasing public discussion on social media regarding instances of racism and discrimination faced by Indians and Indian-origin communities abroad.

Rubio on Pakistan’s Role in US-Iran Diplomacy

Rubio was also asked whether India had raised concerns regarding Pakistan’s reported role as a mediator or facilitator in the ongoing US-Iran peace process.

He said the matter did not arise during discussions with the Indian side.

“They're always concerned about, obviously. India is always pointing to the fact that there are armed terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory that target India. They're always concerned about that. But as far as the role they played as a mediator and a facilitator in the Iran situation, it never came up. I don't think that they would complain about that. I mean, their issue with Pakistan is different,” Rubio said.

Rubio Calls India a Key Strategic Ally

When asked to compare his recent visits to China and India, Rubio described both nations as important but singled out India as a major democratic and strategic partner of the United States.

“India is the most populous country in the world. It's a democracy. It's a strong strategic ally of the United States,” he said.

His remarks come at a time when Washington and New Delhi continue to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, technology, and Indo-Pacific strategy.

(With inputs from ANI)