'Every Country Has Stupid People': Marco Rubio On Racism Against Indians In US

Last Updated:May 24, 2026, 14:19 IST

Rubio stressed that while such concerns must be taken seriously, isolated offensive comments should not be seen as reflective of American society as a whole.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday strongly defended the United States’ record as an immigrant-friendly nation, dismissing racist remarks targeting Indians in America as the actions of “stupid people" that do not represent the country’s broader character.

Speaking at a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi, Rubio was responding to a question on incidents of racism against Indians in the US. He stressed that while such concerns must be taken seriously, isolated offensive comments should not be seen as reflective of American society as a whole.

“I don’t know how to address that, but I’ll take that very seriously," Rubio said. “I’m sure that there are people that have made comments online and other places, because every country in the world has stupid people. I’m sure there are stupid people here, there are stupid people in the United States that make dumb comments all the time."

He reiterated that the United States remains open and inclusive. “I don’t know what else to tell you, other than the United States is a very welcoming country," he added.

Rubio underscored the crucial role immigrants, including the Indian diaspora, play in shaping American society and driving its economy. “Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country, have come from our country, from all over the world, have become Americans, have assimilated into our way of life, and it’s contributing," he said.

Acknowledging the economic impact of the Indian community in the US, Rubio noted their significant contribution. “I accept what you just said about the contribution that Indians have made in the US economy, over USD 20 billion," he remarked. “We want that number to continue to increase."

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar and Rubio held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, a key engagement in the ongoing high-level diplomatic dialogue between India and the United States. The discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides. Jaishankar was accompanied by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other senior officials. Rubio was joined by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and members of the visiting American delegation.

Describing the first day of his visit as “fantastic", Rubio stressed that India and the United States are not just allies but “strategic allies". He said it is this “strategic partnership" that distinguishes the US-India relationship and noted that it “extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world".

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