US Secretary Marco Rubio visits Taj Mahal with wife Jeanette

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal on Monday as part of the third day of his maiden India trip, while the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for May 26 remains one of the most significant engagements of his four-day visit.Rubio, accompanied by his wife Jeanette Rubio, travelled to Agra earlier in the day before heading to Jaipur later on Monday evening.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette D. Rubio, leave from the Taj Mahal in Agra

When asked about his experience, Rubio said, "Beautiful." pic.twitter.com/XyLZQF84YF

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026

During his visit to Jaipur, he is expected to tour Amer Fort, where Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari is scheduled to welcome him at a ceremonial reception organised at Jaleb Chowk inside the historic fort complex.Authorities in Jaipur have intensified security arrangements and civic preparations ahead of Rubio’s arrival. Folk artists and cultural troupes are also expected to showcase Rajasthan’s traditional heritage during the reception ceremony.The top aide to US President Donald Trump is expected to return to New Delhi for the crucial Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting before concluding his India visit on May 26.
According to agency reports,during the first two days of his visit, Rubio held high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, with talks focusing on bilateral cooperation, regional developments and global strategic issues.Following his talks with Jaishankar on Sunday, Rubio said ties between India and the United States continue to remain strong.“India-US relations have not lost momentum … India-US relations will come out much stronger in the coming years,” Rubio said.He also expressed optimism over the proposed India-US trade agreement, saying both countries are “strategically aligned” on nearly all major global matters.
The discussions between the two leaders also covered developments related to the Middle East conflict and maritime security.
Speaking after the meeting, Jaishankar said, “We discussed the situation in Middle East, Indian subcontinent and East Asia,” while reiterating India’s support for “unimpeded” maritime commerce.Rubio also underscored the strategic importance of India in Washington’s foreign policy, describing India as the world’s most populous democracy and a key US ally.Speaking in Delhi, Rubio said India’s concerns regarding Pakistan primarily relate to terrorism originating from Pakistani territory.“India is always pointing to the fact that there are armed terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory that target India. They’re always concerned about that,” Rubio said, adding that Pakistan’s reported role as a mediator in the US-Iran situation did not emerge as a point of concern during discussions.
Responding to questions about racist remarks targeting Indian Americans in the United States, Rubio dismissed inflammatory social media narratives and reaffirmed Trump’s strong relationship with India and Modi.“The President loves India. The President is a big fan of India, a big fan of Prime Minister Modi,” Rubio said.Rubio also said diplomatic efforts regarding Iran were continuing and discussions related to reopening the Strait and nuclear negotiations were progressing.“We’re going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives,” he said.In another statement issued early Monday, Rubio reiterated Washington’s support for the government of Lebanon while criticising Hezbollah.“The U.S. stands firmly with the legitimate Government of Lebanon as it works to restore its authority and build a better future for all its people,” Rubio said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, "Work still in progress. We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today. So we have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the Strait, get the Straits… pic.twitter.com/Ln3s3rJfTZ

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026