How 'Social Media Trolls' Landed US Senator Marco Rubio in Controversy During India Visit

New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a comment while speaking to the media during his visit to India which has kicked up quite a storm online. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India holds significant diplomatic importance. During this trip, he underscored the strength of India-US relations and stated that US President Donald Trump holds India in high regard.

What led to the controversy?

However, a remark he made during a press conference sparked a social media firestorm stretching from the US to India. Marco Rubio stated that "stupid people" exist in every country. This comment not only ignited a debate within India but also touched upon the realm of US domestic politics.

Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata from the US on his maiden visit. While there, he visited the Missionaries of Charity. Subsequently, he held a bilateral meeting in Delhi with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The meeting covered discussions on issues such as trade, energy, defense, and Quad cooperation. India expressed its commitment to increasing energy imports from the US and purchasing goods worth $500 billion.

The controversy erupted when Marco Rubio was addressing a press conference in Delhi alongside India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. During this press conference, the issue of rising racist remarks directed against Indians and Indian-Americans in the US was raised.

What did Donald Trump say?

It is pertinent to mention here that, just a few days prior, President Trump had likened India and China to "hell." Indian officials had characterized that remark as a violation of diplomatic norms. Responding to a question from an Indian journalist during this press conference, Marco Rubio stated, "There are stupid people in every country in the world."

He further added that isolated incidents involving racism or discrimination should not be allowed to overshadow the reality of how communities of Indian origin are thriving in the US.

Rubio went on to say that every country has some "stupid people" who make "dumb comments." He further added, "People on social media say nonsense all the time. There are stupid people in the US, and there are stupid people here [in India] as well." He emphasized that these remarks do not reflect U.S. government policy and that America is a welcoming nation built by immigrants.

Why did Marco Rubio's statement become viral?

On social media, users described it as an indirect jab at Trump. Many created memes, suggesting that Rubio had inadvertently lumped his boss into the "stupid" category. One American user remarked, "Does Rubio realize what he just said about Trump?" Another user wrote, "Marco Rubio called Donald Trump 'stupid' in reference to his racist remarks about India."

Subsequently, the U.S. State Department deleted the tweet from its official handle. On May 25, upon his arrival in Agra, Rubio was once again questioned regarding the racist remarks faced by Indians in the United States. Offering a clarification later, Rubio stated that he was referring to trolls and bots. He added that Trump loves India. He also reiterated his earlier point that "people say stupid things."

Clarifying his response, Rubio explained that he was referring to online comments and suggested that some of those remarks may have been posted by trolls or bots. Noting that he was unaware of the exact context of the specific question being referenced, Rubio stated that he had assumed it pertained to online activity.

He said, "I assumed he was talking about people who post things online. Some of them could be trolls or bots." He further reiterated that such behavior is not limited to any single country. Unfortunately, people say foolish things on social media—and in every country around the world—all the time."

In his remarks, Rubio also emphasized that the United States remains a welcoming nation today, stating that derogatory comments made by a few individuals should not be taken as the perspective of the entire country. He also underscored the strength of US-India relations. He noted that the US President holds India in high regard and shares an excellent rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.