Rahm Emanuel steps down as Japan ambassador ahead of Trump inauguration

President Biden’s ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, will leave his position in Tokyo on Monday and return to the U.S., a traditional changing of the guard ahead of the swearing-in of a new administration.

Emanuel, who was floated as a potential candidate for chair of the Democratic National Committee, will next embark on a lecture tour of service academies of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force in the spring, the U.S. Embassy in Japan said in a statement.

“Last year, I spoke at the U.S. Naval War College and found it both rewarding and reaffirming,” Emanuel said in a statement.

“These lectures are a chance to pass on my experiences and insights from my time in Japan but also, crucially, to recognize the service and commitment of our future military leaders, many of whom will be called upon to protect and preserve American interests in the Indo-Pacific, a fast-developing and critically important region of the world.”

Emanuel said his lectures will draw on his three years serving as ambassador to Japan, sharing thoughts and perspectives on the U.S.-Japan alliance and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Throughout his time as ambassador, Emanuel detailed his lessons learned and insights into the region in his “Tokyo Takes” newsletter, which went out to an estimated 180 members of Congress, chiefs of staff and professional staff of committees, including Armed Services and Foreign Affairs panels.

In his final missive, he called for punishment and consequences for military production firms for failing to meet delivery deadlines for the warfighting means required in Asia, as the U.S. and allies have aimed to build up robust defenses to deter any aggression in the region from China and North Korea, in particular.

“Everybody agrees that something beyond business as usual has to happen, that this is a breaking point,” Emanuel said in a brief phone call with The Hill last month.

A former representative from Illinois, mayor of Chicago and chief of staff to former President Obama, Emanuel has not ruled out a return to politics, with elections for one Senate seat from Illinois open in 2026 and the state holding a gubernatorial race that year.

However, Emanuel told the Chicago Sun-Times in December that he would support Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) if he decides to run for reelection.

“When he makes his decision, I will make mine, and I will support my governor and his desire for reelection. My assumption is he’s running for reelection,” Emanuel said.

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