Indian-American Vedant Patel named US State Department interim spokesperson as Ned Price steps down

Indian American Vedant Patel has been named as the interim spokesperson of the US State Department, according to announcement made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Vedant Patel will take over spokesperson duties from Ned Price who is stepping down this month. Price, who has been the spokesperson of US Department of State since January 20, 2021, will continue to work directly for Antony Blinken at State Department.

An official statement issued by the Blinken said that Price started holding Department’s daily press briefings within days of taking on the role, and has held over 200 briefings since then. Lauding Ned Price’s services, Blinken said that the spokesperson helped the Biden administration defend and promote press freedom around the world and modelled the transparency and openness that the US advocates for other nations.

Thanking Price for his remarkable service, Blinken noted that Price has been a face and voice of US foreign policy and performed with extraordinary professionalism and integrity.

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Blinken, in his statement, also named Vedant Patel as the interim spokesperson, while noting that a replacement for Ned Price is yet to be announced.

Reacting to the announcement, Patel said in a tweet that he was always in awe of Ned Price’s “unflappability, big heart, deep understanding of foreign policy, and fierce loyalty to the State Department and his team.”

He added: “Thankful to have spent time in the foxhole with him, and so glad he’s not going far!’

Born in India and raised in California, Vedant Patel—a graduate of the University of California-Riverside and the University of Florida—served as an Assistant Press Secretary and spokesperson for US President Joe Biden, where he honed his skills in handling media relations and communications strategy.

Patel has also worked on several political campaigns, including those of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Mike Honda, where he served as Communications Director.

Vedant Patel

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