Marco Rubio visits Taj Mahal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a break from high-stakes diplomacy on Monday to visit the iconic Taj Mahal, calling the monument "one of the true treasures of the World" as he concluded a cultural tour of northern India.

According to the report of the Times of India, under a blazing sun and temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, the top US diplomat arrived at the 17th-century mausoleum with his wife, Jeanette, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Rubio, who removed his tie for the occasion, spent approximately 45 minutes marveling at the white marble structure built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

The couple posed for photographs on the same marble bench where Princess Diana sat alone for her famous 1992 picture. "I think it’s important to show respect to the culture of the countries that you visit," Rubio told reporters, adding that the only "Taj Mahal" he previously knew was a casino by the same name formerly associated with President Donald Trump in New Jersey.

The visit comes at a critical juncture, as Rubio is scheduled to lead the US delegation at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. While in Agra, he addressed the ongoing tensions in West Asia, stating that the United States is giving diplomacy with Iran "every chance to succeed" regarding its nuclear program, though he warned that President Trump "is not going to make a bad deal”.

Rubio also used the platform to reinforce ties with New Delhi. He dismissed recent racist online rhetoric targeting Indian Americans as "stupid stuff," asserting that President Trump "loves India”. Regarding regional security, Rubio noted that India’s concerns about cross-border terrorism from Pakistan are "understandable”.

The Secretary of State later departed Agra for Jaipur to tour the Amer Fort, continuing his four-day maiden visit to India. He will return to the capital on Tuesday for the strategic Quad meeting with his counterparts from Australia, Japan, and host nation India.