Rahm Emmanuel; US Ambassador to Japan
The US Senate appoints the aide to former US President Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, on Saturday as the next US Ambassador to Japan.
Rahm Emanuel, the aide to former US President Barack Obama, was appointed on Saturday by the United States Senate as the next US Ambassador to Japan.
"Rahm Emanuel, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to Japan," a statement on the Senate's website said.
In a 48-21 vote early on Saturday, US lawmakers voted to appoint Emmanuel.
Emmanuel has served as the 55th mayor of Chicago and is a member of the Democratic Party.
The appointment of Emmanuel comes after two years of vacancy in the position following William Hagerty’s resignation in July 2019 to run for the Senate.
Kenneth Weinstein was appointed as envoy by then US President Donald Trump; however, before the decision was put through a Senate vote, Trump lost the 2020 presidential election by Joe Biden, annulling Weinstein's nomination.