The new U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, speaks to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, April 18, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO — The new U.S. ambassador to Japan pledged Friday to support the American military’s efforts to “push back against a country like China” during remarks on his first day in the post.
George Glass, a former businessman and veteran diplomat, spoke to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. He was confirmed by the Senate last week in a 66-32 vote following his nomination by President Donald Trump.
Glass, an Oregon native, previously served as U.S. ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021 during Trump’s first term. He posted a photo of his swearing-in ceremony, attended by Vice President JD Vance, on X on April 12.
“We sit with Japan in a very tough neighborhood — you have Russia, you’ve got China, you’ve got North Korea,” Glass said at Haneda. “We had tremendous success in Europe pushing back on the Chinese and their predatory habits.”
A top priority, he added, would be “making sure the military has all the issues taken care of and all the materials they need to be able to successfully push back against a country like China.”
Glass arrives as Japan looks to ease its burden under sweeping tariffs imposed on April 2 on U.S. trading partners. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was reportedly the first foreign leader to contact Trump following the announcement, launching talks on trade and tariffs.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, and his wife, Mary, speak to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, April 18, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
On Wednesday, Trump met in Washington with Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa. That day, Trump wrote on X: “Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS.’ I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA! Best Pres/Deal maker ever.”
Trump later posted on Truth Social that the meeting had made “Big progress!” but provided no details.
At Haneda, Glass said he was “extremely optimistic that a deal will get done,” citing the strength of both countries’ economies and their negotiating teams.
“When I saw that President Trump then decided he was going to get involved and has now named this his top priority, that’s why I have a lot of confidence that we’ll get something done,” Glass said.
He previewed his agenda during an April 11 speech at the Washington residence of Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
“Obviously we have a lot to talk about in the next few weeks. We are well prepared to and very optimistic,” Glass said, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties.
At his March confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Glass called on Japan to increase defense spending, including additional support for U.S. forces and bases in the country.
He described the U.S.-Japan alliance as being at an “all-time high” in both economic and military cooperation.
Glass has a background in finance, investment banking and technology, according to his State Department biography. He is also a regular donor to Trump’s campaigns, the Republican National Committee, GOP congressional candidates and joint fundraising committees.
