Trump Announces Japan Ambassador Nominee, Other Diplomatic Appointments

President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled his pick for U.S. ambassador to Japan, alongside a slate of other diplomatic appointments.

George Glass, a businessman and former investment banker who served as Ambassador to Portugal during the first Trump administration, is Trump’s choice for chief diplomat to Japan—one of the country’s most important ambassadorships.

Diplomatic appointments to Japan are important, rivalled only by those to western European allies like the UK, France, and Germany.

The importance stems from the strategic, economic, and diplomatic ties between the two nations—particularly as the region remains vital to the national security interests of both.

For the United States, the alliance with liberal democratic Japan is crucial as it provides a staging area for surveillance and military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, to counter aggression by communist China and North Korea.

Related Stories

12/16/2024

12/16/2024

As the world’s third-largest economy, Japan is also a major trading partner to the United States.

Asked about Glass at a news conference on Tuesday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo looked forward to “elevating the Japan-U.S. alliance to new heights with the next administration.”

During his time in Lisbon, Glass became known for his strong comments about communist China. He criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its lies and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocated to Portugal that it limit the CCP’s investments in strategic sectors like its 5G network.

At the time, Portugal was collaborating with China-based Huawei Technologies in deploying infrastructure for its 4G networks. Huawei has since sued the Portuguese cybersecurity council (CSSC) for banning use of its equipment in 2023 following EU guidelines against “high-risk vendors.”

Glass was a major donor to both of Trump’s election campaigns.

Other Appointments

Trump named Leah Francis Campos, a former CIA operations officer and GOP congressional candidate for Arizona, as his pick for Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Campos is the sister-in-law of Transport Secretary nominee Sean Duffy. She served in the CIA for over a decade in Western Europe and Latin America.

In an interview with Catholic news outlet Patheos in 2012 during her Congressional campaign, Campos said she had witnessed what she called the “cautionary tale” of Europe’s budding cultural and financial crisis, which she said was “ours to learn from, or be the next victims.”

“I was there,” she said, “and I saw a lot of the false promises that come out of a statist, European-style ’social democracy.’”

“Art has been a staunch supporter of America First Policies, and will make us proud in Austria!” Trump said of the top broker in North Carolina who has worked for “many of the most astute clients in America.”

Entrepreneur Stacey Feinberg was named by Trump as his pick for Ambassador to Luxembourg. Feinberg is president of investment firm 33 Capital and is on the board of the Women Founders Network.

“As a Producer of Broadway musicals, a motivational speaker, and a Board Member of the Women Founders Network, Stacey is committed to supporting women in launching their careers, and scaling their businesses to unprecedented success. [Stacey] will be GREAT, and make America proud!” Trump said in a post.

Trump named businessman Lou Rinaldi as Ambassador to Uruguay.

“Having grown up in Uruguay, he possesses an intimate understanding of the Country’s culture and history. His expertise and background make him exceptionally qualified to advance U.S. interests, and strengthen the longstanding partnership between the United States and Uruguay. Congratulations Lou!” the president-elect said.

All the nominees with have to be confirmed by the Senate.