Matthew Miller (spokesperson)
Matthew Miller | |
---|---|
Spokesperson for the United States Department of State | |
Assumed office April 24, 2023 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Deputy | Vedant Patel |
Preceded by | Ned Price |
Personal details | |
Born | Matthew Alan Miller 1973 or 1974 (age 50–51) |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | University of Texas at Austin |
Matthew Alan Miller (born 1973 or 1974)[1] is an American public official, currently serving as spokesperson for the United States Department of State, a position he has held since April 24, 2023. A longtime Democratic communications operative, he has previously served in the Obama administration and for multiple Democratic presidential campaigns.
Early life and education
Miller was born in 1973 or 1974 to his mother, a management analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and his father, a pastor.[1] He graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin.[1][2]
Career
Miller has worked for Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, as well as the 2004 Kerry and the 2012 Obama presidential campaigns.[2]
During the Obama administration, Miller headed the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice,[3] and served as the spokesman for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.[4]
After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Miller was part of the Biden presidential transition.[5]
During the early days of the Biden administration, he led the efforts to get Antony Blinken's nomination as U.S. Secretary of State confirmed.[6] In 2022, he coordinated communications efforts regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine for the U.S. National Security Council.[4]
Miller then worked for management and communications firm Vianovo, while also appearing as an analyst on MSNBC.[6]
On April 11, 2023, Miller was named as the spokesperson for the United States Department of State, succeeding Ned Price.[4] He started in this new position on April 24, 2023.[2]
Miller has been responsible for communicating the State Department's public policy positions during the Israel–Hamas war. At a press conference on the matter, after he stated the U.S. "doesn't dictate to any country what it must do", a journalist interjected "Unless you invade them!" Miller's laughter prompted Al Jazeera to run the following headline: "US official laughs at question on invading other countries".[7]
Miller called United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728 "non-binding", although stating it should be enforced.[8] After Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese presented a report concluding that Israel's assault on Gaza has met the threshold of genocide, Miller said that the U.S. had "for a longstanding period of time opposed the mandate of [Albanese]" and alleged that Albanese had a "history of anti-Semitic comments".[9][10]
Personal life
Miller married his second wife in 2010. His first marriage ended in a divorce.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Megan Bartley, Matthew Miller". The New York Times. July 23, 2010. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Matthew Miller". United States Department of State. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ "Former NSC official Matthew Miller named as U.S. State Dept spokesperson". Reuters. April 12, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c Lee, Matthew (April 11, 2023). "Blinken names ex-NSC official to be new State Dept spokesman". Associated Press. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ Tarar, Eman Mudassar (April 12, 2023). "Matthew Miller appointed as US State Department Spokesperson". The Diplomatic Insight. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Lippman, Daniel (April 10, 2023). "Biden eyes seasoned Dem operative to be State spokesperson". Politico. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ "US official laughs at question on invading other countries". Al Jazeera. February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Department Press Briefing – March 26, 2024". U.S. State Department (Press release). March 26, 2024.
- ^ "UN expert defiant amid threats after Israel 'genocide' finding". France 24 News. March 27, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Jake (March 28, 2024). "State Department Spokesman Urged to Resign Over 'Despicable' Attack on UN Expert". www.commondreams.org. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
External links
- 1970s births
- Living people
- University of Texas at Austin alumni
- John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign
- Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign
- Obama administration personnel
- United States Department of Justice officials
- Biden administration personnel
- United States National Security Council staffers
- MSNBC people
- United States Department of State spokespeople
- 21st-century United States government officials