US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed a tense exchange with a journalist during a press briefing in New Delhi on Sunday, where he was seen alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The discussion centred on concerns about racist online remarks targeting Indians and Indian Americans, and referenced a controversial social media post involving US President Donald Trump.
The exchange began when a reporter asked Rubio about incidents of online racism and mentioned a post reportedly shared by Donald Trump in April, in which a podcaster had described India using a derogatory term. Rubio responded that he was unclear about the specific reference and initially assumed the question was about general online content or anonymous social media posts.
Rubio said he had asked the journalist to clarify the exact source of the claim but did not receive a specific example. He stated that without clear details, it was difficult to comment on individual posts and added that social media often contains unverified or misleading content, including posts made by bots or anonymous users.
Also Read: BJP Accuses Rahul Gandhi Of Destabilisation Bid After Government Remark
When the reporter reiterated that the reference was linked to a post shared by Trump, Rubio said he had already given an opportunity for clarification. He then shifted to emphasizing that President Donald Trump holds positive views about India and the bilateral relationship. He noted Trump’s recent remarks praising India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and pointed to ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Rubio further stated that he would not be in India if the US administration did not value the partnership, adding that Washington’s appointment of senior diplomatic figures reflected the importance of ties with New Delhi. He also reiterated that while social media contains offensive and inappropriate comments globally, such remarks do not represent official positions of governments or the broader relationship between nations.
The incident relates to an earlier episode in April when Trump reshared a post on social media containing a derogatory description of India. At the time, India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded indirectly, stating that such comments did not reflect the nature of India-US relations, which are based on mutual respect and shared interests.
During the briefing, Rubio also addressed broader concerns about racist remarks faced by Indians abroad, stating that every country has individuals who make inappropriate online comments. He added that the United States values the contribution of immigrants, including Indian-origin communities, who have played a significant role in American society.
Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Retracts ‘Gunda’ Remark On CRPF Amid Phase 2 Voting