The U.S. State Department deleted a video of Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) after he said "every country has stupid people" during a press conference [2].
The incident occurs during a high-profile diplomatic visit to India, highlighting the tension between U.S. officials and the challenges of addressing racial prejudice against Indian citizens and Indian-Americans.
Rubio made the comment while appearing with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi [2]. The remarks came as a response to questions regarding racist attacks targeting Indians and Indian-Americans [1, 2].
Rubio's visit to India is scheduled for four days, running from May 23 to May 26, 2026 [1]. The video of the exchange became viral before the State Department removed the post from its online platforms [2].
"Every country has stupid people," Rubio said [1].
Reports on Rubio's official role during the trip varied, with some sources identifying him as a senator and others as the U.S. Secretary of State [1, 2]. The removal of the footage followed a wave of backlash over the senator's characterization of those engaging in racist behavior.
The State Department has not provided a detailed explanation for the deletion of the viral post [2].
“"Every country has stupid people."”
The deletion of the video suggests the U.S. government viewed the remarks as a diplomatic liability. By framing racism as a byproduct of 'stupid people' in every nation, the response shifted the focus from systemic prejudice to individual intelligence, which may have been perceived as dismissive of the specific concerns of the Indian diaspora.
