May 11, 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden will tap former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as White House chief of staff for former President Barack Obama, as his ambassador to Japan, a report said Tuesday.
The decision to nominate Emanuel, known more for his sharp tongue than his foreign policy chops, is expected to be formally announced later this month, the Financial Times reported, citing eight people familiar with White House discussions.
The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.
Nominating Emanuel to the post would signal the importance the Biden administration places on the U.S. alliance with Tokyo as Washington lays the groundwork for a strategy to deal with challenges presented by China.