New Delhi, May 25 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday sought to downplay allegations of rising anti-India rhetoric in the United States, asserting that President Donald Trump is a strong admirer of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The top diplomat's remarks come amid a swirling controversy triggered by a viral video of his response to a journalist's query regarding alleged instances of racism targeting Indians in the US.

The initial question was widely interpreted as an allusion to previous remarks by Trump, who had reportedly grouped India and China as a "hellhole" while accusing individuals from both nations of exploiting America's birthright citizenship laws.

Rubio is presently on a four-day official visit to India...