US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday pushed back strongly against claims that racism against Indians is a defining feature of American society. He said isolated incidents of discrimination should not be used to judge an entire country.
Rubio made the remarks during a joint media interaction with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi after delegation-level talks between India and the United States.
The comments came after a journalist asked about rising incidents of racism and attacks against Indians in the US. Responding firmly, Rubio said, “Every country in the world has stupid people.”
He further stressed that such behaviour does not represent American society as a whole. According to him, isolated cases of racism or prejudice should not overshadow the success and contribution of the Indian-origin community in the United States.
What did Rubio say about Indian-Americans?
Rubio highlighted that Indian-Americans are among the most successful and respected communities in the US. He said people of Indian origin are excelling across sectors such as technology, business, medicine and public service.
“The Indian diaspora in the United States is extraordinarily successful,” he said, adding that their contribution is widely recognized in American society.
He also noted that the India-US relationship cannot be defined by the actions of a small group of individuals holding “ignorant views.”
Are racist incidents affecting India-US relations?
Rubio said that the broader India-US partnership remains strong and is not shaped by fringe incidents. He said both countries share deep ties and growing cooperation in multiple areas.
Jaishankar did not directly respond to the question during the interaction, though he was seen smiling briefly when the issue was raised, a moment that quickly drew attention.
The media interaction followed wide-ranging talks between the two sides on defence, trade, energy, strategic technologies and regional security.
Rubio described India as one of the United States’ “most important” strategic partners, calling the relationship global in scope. Jaishankar also termed it a “comprehensive global strategic partnership.”
First published on: May 24, 2026 02:36 PM IST
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