US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended America against allegations of racist remarks targeting Indians
May 24, 2026: During a joint press conference with S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Marco Rubio responded to questions regarding racist comments made online against Indians in the United States. When asked about the issue, Rubio said that “stupid people exist in every country” and stressed that offensive online remarks should not define a nation. The question reportedly referred to social media posts recently reshared by Donald Trump that described India negatively, though Trump later praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rubio emphasized that the United States remains a welcoming country and acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora to the American economy and society. He stated that immigrants from around the world, including Indians, have strengthened the US through innovation, business, and economic growth. Referring to the Indian community’s economic role, Rubio noted that Indian contributions to the US economy exceed USD 20 billion and said Washington wants that figure to continue growing.
Addressing concerns over changes to J1, F1, and H-1B visa policies, Rubio clarified that the ongoing immigration reforms are part of a global modernization effort and are not specifically targeted at India. He said the US had experienced a major migration crisis in recent years, with millions entering illegally, making immigration reform necessary. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to stronger India-US relations. Rubio’s visit also included delegation-level talks with Jaishankar in New Delhi and a meeting with Prime Minister Modi.