Trump Names New Ambassador to Japan

The Unites States President-elect Donald Trump decided to appoint former Ambassador to Portugal, George Glass, to new Ambassador to Japan. Glass is known as a major financial contributor to Trump campaign in US presidential election in 2024. While it is unknown how he would work as an ambassador to Japan, most people in Japan recognize that Glass was appointed as a reward of the victory in the election. 

Glass was a businessman who ran an investment bank in Portland, Oregon, and founded a real estate development firm. As the Ambassador to Portugal in the first Trump administration, Glass was known as taking hard-lining position against China, stressing concern about Huawei’s involvement in 5G networks in Portugal. Glass also accused China of its propaganda to shift responsibility of COVID-19 pandemic top US.

 

Although Glass’s connection with Japan is not known well, except his reference to his son who was living in Japan, Trump seemed to pick Glass expecting his tough stance toward China in business agenda. “As a former president of an investment bank, George will bring his business acumen to the Ambassador’s position,” said Trump about his selection of his Ambassador to Japan in his social networking service.

 

According to a report of US local media, Oregonlive, Glass contributed $9,900 to the Trump campaign in 2024, $123,900 to the Republican National Committee and $260,000 to a joint fundraising committee that supported Trump and other Republican candidates across the country. Those contributions are supposed to be the main reason why Trump picked Glass to the Ambassador to Japan.

 

Nominating a major contributor in presidential campaign to the position of Ambassador to Japan is not unusual. Former Ambassador Jon Roos, between 2009 and 2013, worked for fundraising in the campaign of Barack Obama. The Ambassador to Japan in the first Trump administration, Willian Hagerty, was also businessman from Tennessee and member of presidential transition team for Trump.

 

Japan and US have close ties in economy and security. Japanese companies created over 800 thousand jobs in US, the biggest number next to the United Kingdom. About 55 thousand of US military personnel are stationed in Japan. “I am looking forward to raise our Japan-US alliance to new height with next US administration including new ambassador to Japan,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi.

 

Current Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, emphasized at his press conference close relationship between US and Japan, including the Republic of Korea, quoting information sharing in the launch of missile by North Korea. It will closely be looked at whether new ambassador can manage the relationship in the region with volatility possibly brought by China, North Korea or Russia.

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