Biden considering LA Mayor Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India
U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly considering Mayor Eric Garcetti for an ambassadorship, possibly to India, City News Service reported.
According to the news site Axios, which cited people close to the matter, Garcetti is one of the multiple people being considered for the post.
"Today's Axios story is speculative,'' Garcetti's communications director, Alex Comisar, told City News Service. "We aren't going to engage in speculation. We're 100% focused on ending the COVID pandemic and passing a justice budget for the city."
Garcetti served as co-chair of Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain L.A.'s mayor.
The appointment as India's ambassador would come as the nation of 1.36 billion people deals with a spike in COVID-19 cases, with more than 20 million people testing positive for the virus and an official death toll over 220,000, which is believed to be a significant underestimate.
Axios reported that Biden was presented with a list of potential ambassadors in March, and a final decision on the appointment has not yet been made.