[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and the first chief of staff under former President Barack Obama, as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.
According to multiple sources familiar with the White House on the 11th (local time), President Biden has effectively nominated former Mayor Emanuel as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.
Former Mayor Emanuel served as the first chief of staff for former President Barack Obama and had a close relationship with then-Vice President Biden. He left the White House in 2011 and served as mayor of Chicago, Obama's political hometown, until 2019.
President Biden has treated Japan as a particularly important ally, inviting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the White House as the first foreign leader to be received.
Meanwhile, foreign media have predicted that Emanuel may face opposition within the Democratic Party if appointed.
Some progressive groups have raised concerns about his 'record' during the Obama administration, including opposition to the large-scale stimulus package in 2009 and insufficient inclusion of the left wing.
Additionally, some human rights organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), criticized his inadequate response to the fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in Chicago in 2014 during his mayoral tenure.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
