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President Biden is considering Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti for a top position in his administration as ambassador to India, Axios first reported Tuesday.
Garcetti, who has been mayor of one of the most populous cities in the U.S. since 2013, served as co-chair of Biden’s presidential campaign and Inaugural Committee.
"Today's Axios story is speculative," Alex Comisar, spokesperson in the mayor's office, told Fox News. "We aren't going to engage in speculation. We're 100 percent focused on ending the COVID pandemic and passing a justice budget for the city."
LA MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI SAYS HE TURNED DOWN BIDEN ADMINISTRATION POSITION
Garcetti previously turned down an offer by Biden to serve in his administration, opting to continue to govern his COVID-stricken city late last year.
"At this point, when so many lives are on the line, there is nothing more important to me, no task more urgent, than being here as your mayor during the worst emergency that our city has ever faced," Garcetti said during a December news conference.
"As the administration reached out to me about serving," he said, "I let them know…that my city needs me now, and that I want to be here, and that I need to be here."
But as the coronavirus caseload reduces across the U.S. it is unclear if Garcetti would turn down the president for a second time.
India’s crippling COVID-positive numbers have skyrocketed in recent weeks, with India reporting 380,000 new cases Tuesday and totaling over 20 million confirmed cases, according to John Hopkins data.
The U.S. sent over $100 million in medical supplies to aid with the spiking caseloads last week.
But apart from assisting India to tackle the pandemic, Garcetti would likely play a crucial role in facilitating a strengthening relationship between the U.S. and India as Biden attempts to bolster U.S. ties with democratic nations near China.
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Garcetti faced backlash from Black Lives Matter protestors who demonstrated outside of his home for nearly a month last year, demanding his name be dropped from Biden’s list of cabinet hopefuls over his handling of the city’s homelessness and police oversight.
The Los Angeles mayor’s second and final term is up in Fall 2022.
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