Who Is Manu Raju, Indian-Origin Journalist Whose Iran War Question Stumped Marco Rubio?

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 16:04 IST

At a press conference, CNN's Manu Raju asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about his comments on pre-emptive strikes due to Israeli actions

As tensions continue to escalate in the ongoing United States-Iran-Israel conflict, an intense moment unfolded at a press conference in the US when a question from an Indian-origin journalist left US Secretary of State Marco Rubio momentarily on the defensive.

The confrontation took place on Wednesday during a media briefing, where CNN’s senior correspondent Manu Raju pressed Rubio over remarks he had made earlier regarding the unfolding US-Israel-Iran war. The exchange quickly turned heated, prompting Rubio to assert firmly, “This is my press conference."

The row stemmed from Rubio’s earlier statement following a congressional meeting, where he acknowledged that the US had prior knowledge of Israeli military action. “We knew Israeli action was coming. We knew it would lead to attacks on US forces, and we knew that if we didn’t strike first, we would suffer more losses," Rubio had told reporters.

The remarks triggered controversy, as critics interpreted them to suggest that the United States may have decided to launch strikes pre-emptively because of Israel’s expected moves.

During Wednesday’s briefing, Raju sought clarification on the statement, quoting Rubio’s earlier comments and asking whether the US had effectively acted first in anticipation of retaliation. Rubio interrupted, saying there was “no need to clarify" and urged the journalist to read the full statement.

When Raju attempted to follow up, Rubio cut in sharply. “Wait, let me answer, because this is my press conference," he said, as cameras continued recording the tense exchange.

Rubio defended his earlier remarks, accusing sections of the media of misrepresenting his position. He said the decision to act was based on protecting American troops.

“You might misrepresent it, but yesterday I was asked a specific question," Rubio said, “The President decided that we would not be attacked first. It’s simple. We will not put American soldiers in danger. If the President is told that failing to act first will lead to more deaths or injuries, then he will act first. That’s exactly what he did."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also rejected suggestions that Israel forced Washington’s hand. Trump said the administration believed Iran could launch a strike first, making pre-emptive action necessary to safeguard American interests.

Who is Manu Raju?

Manu Raju is an Indian-origin American journalist and currently serves as a senior correspondent at CNN. Born on February 9, 1980, in Downers Grove, Illinois, Raju comes from a family with roots in Karnataka, India.

His parents, Tonse NK Raju and Vidya Raju, moved to the United States in the 1970s and worked at the National Institutes of Health. Raju’s grandfather, Gopalakrishna Adiga, was a celebrated Kannada poet known for his significant contribution to modern Indian literature.

Over the years, Raju has become one of CNN’s prominent political reporters, anchoring major political coverage and earning several awards for his journalism.

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