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Joe Biden has chosen Rahm Emanuel, a former congressman and mayor of Chicago, as the U.S. ambassador to Japan, according to eight people familiar with staff discussions at the White House.
The president of the United States will name Emanuel, who was Barack Obama’s chief of staff and has close ties to Biden, this month in a large package of candidacies for ambassadors, several people said.
Foreign policy experts hoped 61-year-old Emanuel would receive a well-known position. It was early speculated that he was considered the envoy to China, but it is expected that this work will be carried out by Nick Burns, a former American graduate.
Tokyo is one of Washington’s most important diplomatic publications, especially because the United States and Japan work together to meet China’s challenges. Emphasizing the importance of his alliance, it was Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga first foreign leader to meet Biden at the White House.
Emanuel will resurrect the tradition of sending influential former lawmakers to Japan, a trend Tokyo has appreciated because they are believed to have gravitas and more direct access to the White House.
Bill Clinton sent to Tokyo Walter Mondale, former senator and vice president, and then Tom Foley, former Speaker of the House. George W Bush appointed Howard Baker, a former Senate Majority Leader. The last high-profile ambassador to Tokyo was Caroline Kennedy, who served during Obama’s second term and is the daughter of John F. Kennedy.
“From the point of view of Tokyo, the most sought after [after] The asset of a U.S. ambassador to Japan is closeness to the president, “said Mireya Solis, a Japanese expert at the Brookings Institution. “.
Emanuel, a tough Democrat with an abrasive reputation, served in Clinton’s White House in various roles, including as director of political affairs. He was elected to the House of Representatives, but left in 2009 when Obama elected him as his first chief of staff, a position he held for less than two years.
After leaving the White House, he served two terms as mayor of Chicago before running not to run again. The decision followed criticism of the city’s manipulation of a deadly police shooting at a black teenager in 2014. interview with the Financial Times in 2019, he said his decision was personal, but added that the third terms of the policy are “snake bites.”
Emanuel was the object of fire by progressives last year after it was speculated that Biden would consider him for a cabinet role, which suggested he could face a confirmation feud in the Senate.
Attention of the public at times brutal treatment of African Americans by white police has also increased since Emanuel left office.
Solís said Emanuel’s confirmation hearing would be seen closely because his term as mayor of Chicago had created friction with some Democrats. He added that while Tokyo would value his relationship with Biden, there was some “concern” about his reputation for forcefulness.
Emanuel’s grandfather emigrated from Russia and his father is from Israel. His brother, Zeke, is an oncologist who was part of a team that Biden created before taking office to tackle Covid-19. His other brother, Ari, is one Hollywood talent agent who was the inspiration for a TV show character Follow us.
Biden has not yet appointed ambassadors to major U.S. allies. Emanuel and the White House declined to comment.
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