Rubio rejects claims of anti-India bias in US administration, defends bilateral ties

In a defence of the American image abroad, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly dismissed suggestions of systemic anti-India sentiment within the current Washington administration, clarifying that offensive remarks on social media do not reflect the core values of the United States or its leadership.

Speaking to reporters in the national capital during his official four-day diplomatic visit to India, Rubio directly addressed a tense confrontation with a reporter during a joint press briefing held alongside Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday.

Rubio clarified that he did not know what specific "racist comments about India" the journalist was referring to, noting that no clear example or concrete context was provided during the exchange.

A call for clarification met with silence

The Secretary of State revealed that he intentionally gave the reporter an immediate opportunity to clarify the accusation and provide a distinct instance of the alleged remarks. When the journalist failed to provide one, Rubio said he assumed the query was referencing random, unverified social media posts rather than official policy positions.

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"I assumed that he was talking about people posting stuff online. Some of those could be a troll, a bot," Rubio said on Monday, revisiting the exchange.

He emphasised that internet vitriol is a universal challenge rather than an American anomaly.

"People say stupid stuff all the time on social media and in every country in the world, unfortunately," Rubio said.

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'The President loves India'

Rubio aggressively rejected the underlying suggestion that President Donald Trump held or tolerated disparaging views toward India or its diaspora. Instead, he painted a starkly contrasting picture of deep, foundational mutual respect between the executive leaders of the world's two largest democracies.

"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 [Gor] to be our ambassador, someone who's very close to the President," Rubio said.

Rubio's comments align with a highly unusual public display of diplomacy that occurred just hours prior. During a National Day reception hosted at the US Embassy in New Delhi, US Ambassador Sergio Gor held his smartphone up to a microphone, allowing President Trump to address the gathering live via phone.

During the call, Trump echoed Rubio’s sentiments exactly, declaring, "I love India... I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great; he is my friend."

The Secretary of State rounded his remarks by stressing that the United States remains an exceptionally welcoming, immigrant-friendly country, urging the public not to let the fringe behavior of online actors overshadow the historic, multi-billion-dollar strategic and economic alliance currently being forged between Washington and New Delhi.