Then-U.S. Ambassador to Portugal George Glass visits the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Atlantic Ocean, Nov. 16, 2018. (U.S. Navy)
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed George Glass, a veteran diplomat and businessman, as America’s next ambassador to Japan, approving his nomination by a 66-32 vote.
The Oregon native previously served as ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Glass will arrive in Tokyo as Japan seeks to soften its share of sweeping tariffs imposed April 2 by Trump on U.S. trading partners around the world. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was the first foreign leader to phone Trump and open negotiations, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
At his confirmation hearing in March, Glass told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Japan should expand its defense spending, including support for U.S. troops and military bases.
He described the U.S.-Japan alliance as being at an “all-time high” in terms of economic and military cooperation. Twelve Democrats joined Republicans in supporting Glass’ nomination.
Oregon’s two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, did not vote in favor.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., voted in favor of Glass’ appointment. At the confirmation hearing, she asked Glass to reconcile his outlook on Japan with Trump’s, who reportedly told reporters, “we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don’t have to protect us.”
Glass replied that the two responses reflected the strength of the countries’ partnership.
Shaheen was joined by her New Hampshire colleague, Maggie Hassan, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, of Virginia, and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, among other Democrats.
No Republicans opposed the nomination, although Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., did not vote, according to the Senate homepage.
U.S. Embassy Tokyo acknowledged questions about Glass’ arrival on Wednesday but did not immediately respond.
Japan is a close military ally and trading partner. In 2022, it provided the most foreign investment in the United States at $775.2 million, or nearly 15% of the total, according to a September report by the U.S. Commerce Department.
The U.S. trade deficit with Japan stood at $68.5 billion in 2024, a 4.3% decrease, or $3.1 billion, from the previous year, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative website.
The U.S. exported nearly $80 billion in goods to Japan last year and imported $148 billion, according to the trade representative. Machinery, appliances and transportation equipment constituted the bulk of Japan’s exports to the U.S. in 2022, according to the Commerce Department.
A State Department biography describes Glass as a businessman with experience in finance, investment banking and technology.
Formerly of Lake Oswego, Ore., a Portland suburb, Glass moved to a gated community in Heber City, Utah, after returning from Portugal, the Deseret News reported in December 2023.
Glass is a regular donor to Trump campaigns, the Republican National Committee, GOP congressional candidates and combined campaign funds.
Last year, he gave $250,000 to the Trump 47 campaign and $123,000 to the RNC, according to Federal Election Commission records online.
As a businessman, Glass was an adviser to Reltio, a data management company in Redwood Shores, Calif., and a partner in MGG Development LLC, a developer in Oregon of apartment complexes and rental homes. He also worked in Portland investment banking, according to his biography.
Glass earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, where he later served as a trustee. He was also a trustee of the Oregon Health Sciences University.
