Rham Emanuel, who served in the Biden administration as the U.S. ambassador to Japan, is joining CNN as a senior political commentator, the network announced Thursday.
Emanuel will also be a global affairs commentator and bring his “extensive knowledge of American politics and international affairs” to the network, CNN said in a release.
“A political veteran with more than three decades of experience in Democratic politics, Emanuel served as the 31st United States Ambassador to Japan during the Biden administration,” the release said.
Emanuel stepped down as ambassador to Japan ahead of President Trump’s inauguration. Emanuel detailed the lessons he learned in Japan in his “Tokyo Takes” newsletter, which went out to members of Congress, chiefs of staff and professional staff of committees.
As his time serving the country abroad came to a close, he warned about the international impacts of a second Trump administration, particularly on countries in Asia.
“Everybody agrees that something beyond business as usual has to happen, that this is a breaking point,” he told The Hill about defense tensions in the region.
As a veteran Washington insider having served three Democratic presidents, including as former President Obama’s chief of staff, Emanuel was floated by Democratic strategists to next lead the Democratic National Committee. It was also rumored he could be tapped as former Vice President Kamala Harris’s national security adviser if she won the election.
He holds a reputation as a high-energy operative who can often use colorful and profane language. Last September, when he posted snarky comments about Chinese officials, he sparked a small diplomatic crisis.
Emanuel also served as an Illinois representative in Congress and came back after his time in the White House to be Chicago’s mayor.
